As the No. 3 seed at 141 pounds, Mendez previously defeated Bartlett to win the national title in 2024. They had squared off three times earlier this year, with Bartlett claiming victory in their last two encounters before Mendez’s win on Friday (2-1, TB-2).
During Friday’s morning session, two Buckeyes achieved All-America status with their quarterfinal wins, while four others advanced to the blood round, all aiming for All-America recognition.
Mendez and Dylan D’Emilio made it to the semifinals, while Nic Bouzakis, Brandon Cannon, Seth Shumate, and Nick Feldman reached Round 4 of the consolation bracket, where winning could secure them a spot on the podium and All-America honors as Top 8 finishers.
Unfortunately, Bouzakis, Cannon, Shumate, and Feldman fell short of achieving All-America status in their matches.
As the championship competition moves into its final day on Saturday, Ohio State currently stands in eighth place with a total of 44 points.
2025 NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
(all times Eastern and subject to change)
Session 5 – Medal Round – Saturday, March 22 at 11 a.m. on ESPNU/ESPN+
Session 6 – Championship Finals – Saturday, March 22 at 7 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN+
