Jesse Mendez

Last updated

Jesse Mendez
Personal information
Full nameJesse Wayne Mendez
Born (2002-04-28) April 28, 2002 (age 23)
Crown Point, Indiana, U.S.
Weight65 kg (143 lb)
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Sport Wrestling
Event(s) Freestyle and Folkstyle
College team Ohio State
ClubOhio Regional Training Center
Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
Coached byTom Ryan
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
US National Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg2025 Las Vegas65 kg
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg2022 Las Vegas61 kg
U20 World Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2023 Amman 65 kg
U17 Pan American Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Morelia 60 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing Ohio State Buckeyes
NCAA Division I Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2025 Philadelphia 141 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Kansas City 141 lb
Big Ten Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 College Park 141 lb

Jesse Wayne Mendez (born April 28, 2002) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 65 kilograms. In freestyle, he claimed a silver medal at the 2023 U20 World Championships. [1]

Contents

In folkstyle, Mendez is a two-time NCAA Division I National champion at 141 pounds, as well as a three-time All-American for the Ohio State Buckeyes. [2]

Folkstyle Career

Ohio State University

Mendez was just the 10th wrestler to win four Indiana wrestling state titles capping off a 157-1 high school career. Mendez also competed for team USA at the 2019 Cadet Worlds and 2021 Junior Worlds. [3] [4]

2022-2023

Mendez started as a true freshman for the Buckeyes at 133 lbs. Mendez had a strong regular season finishing 13-3 with notable losses to Vito Arujau 6-1 and Roman Bravo-Young 8-2. Mendez finished his first Big 10 tournament with a sixth-place finish going 1-3. [5] Mendez kicked off his first NCAA tournament with a 12-4 major decision over Brendan Ferretti of Navy. Mendez was sent to the consolation bracket after a 6-2 loss to Arizona State's Michael McGee. Mendez then rattled off four straight wins including wins over Lucas Byrd of Illinois and revenging a regular season loss against Sam Latona of Virginia Tech to land on the podium. Mendez finished the tournament with back-to-back losses to Michael McGee and Aaron Nagao of Minnesota to cap off a sixth-place finish as a true freshman. [6]

2023-2024

Up at 144lb Mendez's sophomore campaign started off strong winning Big 10 wrestler of the week after a 5-0 run to winning a CKLV title defeating three Top 15 ranked wrestlers including Brock Hardy of Nebraska, Vince Cornella of Cornell before winning the title match over No. 7 Ryan Jack of NC State by decision, 5-2. [7] Mendez improved to 25-2 on the season by capturing his first Big 10 tournament title by revenging an earlier loss against Penn State's Beau Bartlett in a 4-1 decision. [8] Mendez kicked off the NCAA tournament with bonus wins of Todd Carter of Gardner Webb 19-4 and a fall of Chattanooga's Isaiah Powe. In the quarterfinals Mendez defeated Big 10 foe Brock Hardy by 6-2 decision. In the semifinals Mendez defeated Iowa State's Anthony Echemendia 6-4 to advance to the finals in a rematch of the Big 10 conference tournament. Mendez became a NCAA tournament champion by defeating Bartlett 4-1. [9]

2024-2025

Mendez returned for his junior year to 141lb as the returning champion at the weight class. Mendez suffered his only regular season loss of the season to rival Beau Bartlett 4-2 in the Penn State-Ohio State dual meet. Mendez finished fourth at the Big 10 conference tournament after falling 9-8 to Nebraska's Brock Hardy. Mendez once again fell to Bartlett 4-2 in the third-place match. [10] Mendez began his third NCAA tournament with bonus wins over Briar Priest of Pittsburgh, Sergio Lemley of Michigan and Vance Vombaur of Minnesota. Mendez revenged two losses during the season by taking out Bartlett 2-1 in tiebreakers to advance to his second straight NCAA final. Mendez captured his second NCAA 141lb title by revenging a conference tournament loss to Brock Hardy 12-9. [11]

Freestyle record

Senior freestyle matches
Res.RecordOpponentScoreDateEventLocation
2025 US World Team Trials DNP at 65 kg
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Carter YoungFFMay 16–17, 20252025 US World Team Trials Challenge

Flag of the United States.svg Louisville, Kentucky

Loss17-8 Flag of the United States.svg Real Woods 9-11
Win17-6 Flag of the United States.svg Marcus Blaze 4-1
2025 US Open Silver medal icon.svg 65 kg
Loss16-7 Flag of the United States.svg Joseph McKenna 2-3April 23, 20252025 CLAW US Open – 65 kg Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada
Win16-6 Flag of the United States.svg Beau Bartlett 4-2
Win15-6 Flag of the United States.svg Vince CornellaTF 15-4
Win14-6 Flag of the United States.svg Ethan RossiTF 12-2
Win13-6 Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Alirez 4-1June 5, 20242024 Beat the Streets Flag of the United States.svg New York City, New York
2024 US Olympic Team Trials 4th at 65 kg
Loss12–6 Flag of the United States.svg Joseph McKenna 4–4April 19–20, 2024 2024 US Olympic Team Trials

Flag of the United States.svg State College, Pennsylvania

Win12–5 Flag of the United States.svg Nahshon Garrett TF 11–0
Loss11–5 Flag of the United States.svg Zain Retherford 2–3
Win11–4 Flag of the United States.svg Yianni Diakomihalis 12–7
Win10–4 Flag of the United States.svg James Green 6–3
Win9–4 Flag of the United States.svg Joseph McKenna 8–2
2023 Bill Farrell Memorial DNP at 57 kg
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Henry PorterFFNovember 18, 20232023 Bill Farrell Memorial International

Flag of the United States.svg New York City, New York

Loss8–4 Flag of the United States.svg Kaleb Larkin6–7
Win8–3 Flag of Guam.svg Ethan AguiguiTF 10–0
2022 US World Team Trials DNP at 61 kg
Loss7–3 Flag of the United States.svg Josh Rodriguez2–5May 21–22, 20222022 US World Team Trials

Flag of the United States.svg Coralville, Iowa

Win7–2 Flag of the United States.svg Shelton MackTF 10–0
Loss6–2 Flag of the United States.svg Seth Gross12–13
2022 US Open Bronze medal icon.svg at 61 kg
Win Flag of the United States.svg Daniel DeshazerFFApril 27 – May 1, 20222022 US Open National Championships

Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada

Win Flag of the United States.svg Tyler GraffFF
Win6–1 Flag of the United States.svg Josh Kramer8–4
Win5–1 Flag of the United States.svg Paul BianchiTF 10–0
Win4–1 Flag of the United States.svg Mitchell BrownTF 10–0
Win3–1 Flag of the United States.svg Ethan RotondoTF 12–0
Loss2–1 Flag of the United States.svg Daniel Deshazer5–6
Win2–0 Flag of the United States.svg Joseph PinsTF 10–0
Win1–0 Flag of the United States.svg Kyle SmithTF 10–0

References

  1. ↑ "Jesse Mendez - 2024-25 - Wrestling". Ohio State. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Ohio State Wrestler Jesse Mendez Wins Second Straight National Championship". Eleven Warriors. March 22, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Jesse Mendez closing in on 4th state title: 'I want to be known as the best ever do it.'". Indy Star. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Wrestling: No. 1 Recruit Jesse Mendez Commits to Ohio State, Gives Buckeyes Three Top-Ranked Recruits in the Class of 2022". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sasso Wins Big Ten Title, Buckeyes Fourth Overall". Ohio State Athletics. March 5, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Ohio State in Fourth at NCAA Championships". Ohio State Athletics. March 18, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Ohio State Claims Wrestler of the Week Honor". Big 10 Conference. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Mendez Takes Big Ten Title at 141". Ohio State Athletics. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Jesse Mendez Wins NCAA Championship Match at 141 Pounds, Ohio State's First Title Since Kyle Snyder in 2018". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Jesse Mendez Wins Second Straight National Championship At 141 Pounds". Buckeye Sports. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Jesse Mendez overcomes rivalries en route to second straight NCAA Wrestling title for Ohio State". On3 Sports. Retrieved May 28, 2025.
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