10 Buckeyes Seek NCAA Wrestling Titles in Cleveland

Ohio State sends 10 qualifiers to the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships, led by two-time defending champion Jesse Mendez.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 12:23am

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Ohio State is sending 10 wrestlers to the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, including two-time defending champion Jesse Mendez and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Ben Davino. The Buckeyes are aiming for their first team championship since 2015 and have six returning NCAA qualifiers from last season. Head coach Tom Ryan says the team's experienced leaders will be key as they chase a national title.

Why it matters

Ohio State is one of the top wrestling programs in the country, and sending 10 qualifiers to the NCAA Championships demonstrates the team's depth and talent. A national title would be a significant achievement for the program and cement its status as an elite wrestling school.

The details

The Buckeyes are led by two-time defending champion Jesse Mendez, who is seeded No. 1 at 141 pounds, and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Ben Davino, who is seeded No. 2 at 133 pounds and making his NCAA Championships debut. Ohio State also returns six NCAA qualifiers from last season, including Nic Bouzakis (125), Brandon Cannon (157), Paddy Gallagher (165), Carson Kharchla (174), and Nick Feldman (HWT). Redshirt sophomore Luke Geog will make his second NCAA Championships appearance at 197 pounds, while transfers Ethan Stiles (149) and Dylan Fishback (184) will compete in their second NCAA championships as Buckeyes.

  • The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships will take place this week in Cleveland.
  • Ohio State qualified 10 wrestlers for the tournament, the most of any program.
  • The Buckeyes last won a team national title in 2015.

The players

Jesse Mendez

A two-time defending NCAA champion and the No. 1 seed at 141 pounds.

Ben Davino

The Big Ten Freshman of the Year and the No. 2 seed at 133 pounds, making his NCAA Championships debut.

Tom Ryan

The head coach of the Ohio State wrestling team, who is in his 20th year leading the program.

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What they’re saying

“The backbone of Ohio State wrestling has been the ones that get really tough when it matters the most and that's this weekend.”

— Tom Ryan, Head Coach (thelantern.com)

“I truly can't wait to represent Ohio State. We're a program built on champions, and I can't wait to fill up those expectations.”

— Ben Davino (thelantern.com)

What’s next

The Buckeyes will look to improve on their fifth-place finish at last year's NCAA Championships and capture their first team title since 2015.

The takeaway

Ohio State's deep and talented wrestling team is poised to make a run at the NCAA team championship, led by experienced veterans and rising stars like Jesse Mendez and Ben Davino. The Buckeyes' reputation as an elite wrestling program is on the line as they compete in front of a home crowd in Cleveland.