Ohio Wrestlers Shine at NCAA National Championships

Buckeye State Competitors Earn Multiple All-America Honors

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:03am

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Ohio wrestlers made a strong showing at the NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships, with 28 competitors from the state and 36 total when including wrestlers from Ohio University, Kent State, and Ohio State. Ohio produced 10% of the championship contestants and 13% of the All-Americans, highlighting the state's deep wrestling tradition and culture.

Why it matters

Wrestling is deeply ingrained in Ohio's sports culture, with the state boasting over 400 high school programs and a long history of producing top-level talent. The strong performance by Ohio wrestlers at the national championships underscores the state's continued dominance in the sport and its status as a hotbed for wrestling talent.

The details

Ohio wrestlers shined at the NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships, with several earning coveted All-America honors. This included standouts like Marcus Blaze (Penn State/Perrysburg), Joey Blaze (Purdue/Perrysburg), Carson Kharchla (Ohio State/Olentangy Liberty), Camden McDanel (Nebraska/Teays Valley), Brendon Cannon (Ohio State), Bryce Hepner (North Carolina/St. Edward), Paddy Gallagher (Purdue/St. Edward), and Lucas Byrd (Illinois/LaSalle). Ohio State also had two national runners-up in Ben Davino and Jesse Mendez.

  • The NCAA Division I men's national wrestling championships began on March 21, 2026.
  • The championship matches took place on March 21, 2026.

The players

Stipe Miocic

A two-time UFC champion who wrestled for Cleveland State as a 197-pounder and competed in the 2003 NCAA Championships.

Tom Ryan

The head coach of the Ohio State wrestling team, who noted that Toledo was one of the birthplaces of international wrestling and that Ohio has a deep wrestling culture with over 400 high school programs.

Eddie Neitenbach

An All-American wrestler from Wyoming High School in Ohio who is set to return for two more years of competition.

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What they’re saying

“It's not just Ohio, but especially Northeast Ohio. They're just tough kids. We love wrestling and it shows. We're good at what at what we do. You see different styles. We're gritty on the mat. We take what we want and that's why we do so well.”

— Stipe Miocic

“Wrestling is deeply rooted in the culture of the state. Toledo was one of the birthplaces of international wrestling. The Russians and Iranians would come in and wrestle in Toledo. There's a lot of people wrestling in Ohio. There's over 400 high school programs. There are great coaches and great clubs. It's kind of the spirit of the state. It has always mattered.”

— Tom Ryan, Ohio State Wrestling Coach

“Ohio has always been a tough state. It breeds great wrestlers. The competition breeds great contenders. It's awesome.”

— Eddie Neitenbach, Wyoming High School Wrestler

The takeaway

The strong performance by Ohio wrestlers at the NCAA Division I National Championships underscores the state's deep-rooted wrestling culture and tradition. With a large high school wrestling presence, elite coaching, and a gritty, competitive spirit, Ohio continues to be a hotbed for top-level wrestling talent that competes at the highest levels of the sport.