COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2 Ohio State (10-0) opened the 2025 Journeymen Collegiate Duals in Nashville Sunday with a 34-9 win over Arkansas-Little Rock (2-5) before knocking off No. 3 Iowa State (2-1) in the nightcap, 21-13.
The Top 3 matchup with the Cyclones started with the Buckeyes taking a 9-0 lead after the opening three bouts.
No. 1 Jesse Mendez won for the second time this year against Iowa State’s No. 4 ranked Anthony Echemendia when the pair met again Sunday in the 141-pound match. Mendez prevailed 5-1 after winning a preseason match 7-3 against Echemendia at the 2025 NWCA All-Star Championships.
No. 2 Ben Devino took down No. 3 Evan Frost at 133 with a 4-2 win by decision after No. 3 Nic Bouzakis got things started against the Cyclones at 125 with a 9-2 win over No. 13 Stevo Poulin.
After Iowa State won a close battle at 149, Brandon Cannon turned the tide for good for the Buckeyes with a late pin at 157 to help send Ohio State to victory.
The Buckeyes own three dual wins this season against Top 3 teams and five overall against Top 10 opponents.
In the opener against UALR, six of Ohio State’s seven victories were by bonus points with five technical fall victories and a pin by No. 1 Jesse Mendez at 141.
Ohio State will next compete in dual competition Jan. 4, 2026, at Oregon State (5 p.m. ET) before opening the Big Ten dual season at home against Indiana, Jan. 11 (1 p.m.) at the Covelli Center.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Iowa State
125 – (3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (13) Stevo Poulin (ISU), D, 9-2
Bouzakis wasted no time in building a quick 5-1 lead after one period. Poulin escaped early in the second before a Bouzakis takedown made it 8-2 Buckeyes headed to the third period. From bottom, Bouzakis escaped for a 9-2 lead and the win by decision.
133 – (2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (3) Evan Frost (ISU), D, 4-2
Davino opened with a takedown to lead 3-1 after the first. Davino escaped early in the second for 4-1 lead after five minutes.
Frost escaped early in the third but Davino finished off the match for the 4-2 win by decision.
141 – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (4) Anthony Echemendia (ISU), D, 5-1
There was no score after the opening three minutes. Echemendia opened the second with an escape for a 1-0 lead. Mendez got the first takedown of the match with about 25 seconds left in the second for a 3-1 lead. Mendez started from bottom in the third and escaped for a 4-1 lead. Echemendia was called for stalling to make it 5-1 Mendez, who got the win by decision, 5-1.
149 – (10) Jacob Frost (ISU) def. (6) Ethan Stiles (OSU), SV-1, 4-1
Frost scored first with an escape early in the second after no scoring in the opening period. The bout went to the third with Frost up 1-0. Stiles evened the match at 1-all with an escape to open the final period. The match went to sudden victory tied at 1-all. Frost then got the takedown for the 4-1 win by decision.
157 – (4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. Kane Naaktgeboren (ISU), Fall, 6:49
Cannon struck first with a takedown for a 3-1 lead after an ISU escape. He added another late in the opening period to go to the second leading 6-1. Cannon added two points with a late reversal to go to the third up 8-1. Naaktgeboren earned an escape in the third with a minute left. Cannon added a takedown before getting the pin late at 6:49.
165 – (20) Connor Euton (ISU) def. (16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), D, 4-2
There was no scoring in the opening three minutes. Gallagher got on the board first with an escape early in the second. Euton escaped to tie it at 1-all with an escape in the third. Euton earned a takedown late in the third. Gallagher escaped to make it 4-2 Iowa State.
174 – (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. Aiden Riggins (ISU), D, 7-3
Kharchla fought off a Riggins attack and battled for a takedown and a 3-0 lead. Riggins escaped to go to the second trailing the Buckeye 3-1. Riggins added another escape to open the second to make it 3-2. Kharchla countered with a takedown midway through the second to head to the final period leading 6-3. Kharchla opened the third with an escape for a 7-3 advantage.
184 – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. (13) Isaac Dean (ISU), SV-1, 4-1
Neither wrestler was able to put points on the board in the opening three minutes. Fishback got the escape point to start the second. The match went to the final period with the Buckeyes leading 1-0. Dean evened the score at 1-all with an early escape. The match then went to sudden victory after a late scramble in the third. Fishback got the win, 4-1, with a takedown a minute into the extra session.
197 – (1) Rocky Elam (ISU) def. (14) Luke Geog (OSU), MD, 9-0
Elam got the opening takedown of the match for a 3-0 lead. Elam added another early in the second for a 6-0 advantage. Geog was hit for a stalling point to make it 7-0 ISU. Elam added an escape point to start the third. With a point for riding time, Elam got the win by major decision, 9-0.
285 – (1) Yonger Bastida (ISU) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 4-2
The match went to the second period scoreless. Feldman opened the second with an escape for a 1-0 lead. Bastida tied it with an escape in the third before taking a 4-1 lead with a takedown. Feldman escaped to make it 4-2.
Wt.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Iowa State
OSU
ISU
125
(3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (13) Stevo Poulin (ISU), D, 9-2
3
0
133
(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (3) Evan Frost (ISU), D, 4-2
6
0
141
(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (4) Anthony Echemendia (ISU), D, 5-1
9
0
149
(10) Jacob Frost (ISU) def. (6) Ethan Stiles (OSU), SV-1, 4-1
9
3
157
(4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. Kane Naaktgeboren (ISU), Fall, 6:49
15
3
165
(20) Connor Euton (ISU) def. (16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), D, 4-2
15
6
174
(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. Aiden Riggins (ISU), D, 7-3
18
6
184
(6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. (13) Isaac Dean (ISU), SV-1, 4-1
21
6
197
(1) Rocky Elam (ISU) def. (14) Luke Geog (OSU), MD, 9-0
21
10
HWT
(1) Yonger Bastida (ISU) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 4-2
21
13
No. 2 Ohio State vs. Little Rock
125 – Vinny Kilkeary (OSU) def. Jeremiah Reno (UALR), D, 16-10
Kilkeary opened with a takedown and built a 7-2 lead after the opening period. Kilkeary built over a minute of riding time before Reno got a reversal to make it 7-4. Kilkeary escaped and then added a takedown to go up 11-4. The bout was then stopped for a Reno injury. After the match resumed, Reno earned a takedown to make it 11-7 at the end of five minutes. Reno cut to the lead to 11-10 Buckeyes with an early takedown in the third. Kilkeary added an escape for a two-point lead. Reno was called for stalling before a Kilkeary takedown upped the advantage to 16-10 win by decision
133 – (2) Ben Davino (OSU) Def. Dillon Cooper (UALR), TF, 20-3
Davino jumped to a 10-0 lead with a pair of takedowns around a four-point nearfall. Cooper posted a couple escape points around a pair of Davino takedowns to up the score to 16-3. Davino then finished off the match with a 20-3 win by technical fall.
141 – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. Brennan Van Hoecke (UALR), F, 1:38
Mendez got on the board with two takedowns for a 6-3 lead. Mendez added another takedown before earning the pin at 1:38.
149 – Carter McCallister (UALR) def. Dax Chase (OSU), D, 5-4
The Buckeyes took a 3-1 lead after the opening period on a Chase takedown and McCallister escape. McCallister opened with an escape for the only scoring of the second period to make it 3-2 going to the final period. Chase chose bottom and quickly escaped for a 4-2 lead. McCallister then scored a takedown for a 5-4 advantage and rode out the period to win by decision, 5-4.
157 – (4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. Jaivon Jones (UALR), TF, 20-4
Late in the first Cannon got the lead (3-0) with a takedown. Cannon escaped then got two takedowns for 10-1 lead after five minutes. The lead increased to 13-3 with another Cannon takedown. The Buckeye then finished off the match for a win by technical fall, 20-4.
165 – (5) Matty Bianchi (UALR) def. e’Than Birden (OSU), D, 10-3
Bianchi opened the scoring with a takedown to go to the second period up 3-0. An escape made it 4-0 UALR after five minutes. Birden cut the lead to 4-3 with a takedown before a Bianchi escape made it 5-3. Birden was called for stalling before a Bianchi late takedown helped earn a 10-3 win by decision.
174 – (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. Gunner Holland (UALR), TF, 17-2
Kharchla got a quick takedown and four-point nearfall for a 7-0 lead. The advantage increased to 13-2 with a pair of takedowns in the second. In the final period, Kharchla finished off the match for a 17-2 win by technical fall.
184 – Bronson Baxter (UALR) def. Cayaen Smith (OSU), D, 4-2
There was no score in the first. Smith escaped to open the second before a Baxter takedown and Smith escape made it 3-2 UALR after five minutes. Baxter went up 4-2 with an escape for a win by decision.
197 – (14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Landon Jobber-Spence (UALR), TF, 19-3
Jobber-Spence scored first for a 3-1 lead after a Geog escape. Geog then took a 4-3 lead with a takedown. The lead ballooned to 12-3 with a takedown and four-point nearfall for the Buckeye. Another pair of takedowns and nearfall points ended the match with a 19-3.
285 – (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. Kaden Darwin (UALR), TF, 17-2
Feldman raced to a 13-2 lead with a combination of takedowns and nearfall points. The match ended with Feldman winning by technical fall, 17-2, in under two minutes of action in the opening period.
Wt.
No. 2 Ohio State vs. Arkansas-Little Rock
OSU
UALR
125
Vinny Kilkeary (OSU) def. Jeremiah Reno (UALR), D, 16-10
3
0
133
(2) Ben Davino (OSU) Def. Dillon Cooper (UALR), TF, 20-3
8
0
141
(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. Brennan Van Hoecke (UALR), F, 1:38
14
0
149
Carter McCallister (UALR) def. Dax Chase (OSU), D, 5-4
14
3
157
(4) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. Jaivon Jones (UALR), TF, 20-4
19
3
165
(5) Matty Bianchi (UALR) def. e’Than Birden (OSU), D, 10-3
19
6
174
(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. Gunner Holland (UALR), TF, 17-2
24
6
184
Bronson Baxter (UALR) def. Cayaen Smith (OSU), D, 4-2
24
9
197
(14) Luke Geog (OSU) def. Landon Jobber-Spence (UALR), TF, 19-3
29
9
HWT
(3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. Kaden Darwin (UALR), TF, 17-2
34
9
Several Buckeyes competed Saturday at the Kent State Holiday Open in Kent, Ohio.
Wrestling unattached, freshman Maddox Shaw took third in the 149-pound bracket with a 3-1 record to lead the Ohio State contingent.
Ohio State at the 2025 Kent State Holiday Open
Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center
133-Dakota King (2-2)
133-Dakota King (OSU) TF Aiden Beimel (Unat.-Clarion), 20-5 2:47
133-Bryce Luna (UTC) D Dakota King (OSU), 4-3
133-Dakota King (OSU) D Elijah Lowe (UTC), 14-10
133-Diego Stropko (Spire Acad.) D Dakota King (OSU), 11-5
165-T.J. Schierl (3-2)
165-T.J. Schierl (OSU) D Josh Knudten (Unat.), 11-8 SV
165-T.J. Schierl (OSU) F Ty Deericks (KSU), 6:50
165-Cody Chittum (Unat.-UTC) TF T.J. Schierl (OSU), 17-2 5:31
165-T.J. Schierl (OSU) DEF Alaa Aly (Edin), 1-0 3:26
165-Nicholas Kunstek (LHU) D T.J. Schierl (OSU), 8-5 SV
165-Boede Campbell (0-2)
165-Cody Chittum (Unat.-UTC) TF Boede Campbell (OSU), 20-3 5:18
165-Justin Gates (UM) D Boede Campbell (OSU), 8-1
165-Patrick Downing (0-2)
165-Sasha Gavronsky (WVU) TF Pat Downing (OSU), 15-0 3:49
165-Nicholas Kunstek (Lock Haven) TF Pat Downing (OSU), 20-5 6:40
184-Carson Mize (2-2)
184-Landon Jones (UTC) TF Carson Mize (OSU), 19-4 5:51
184-Carson Mize (OSU) MD Aiden Schlett (Unat.), 14-3
184-Carson Mize (OSU) F Jake Leclerc (Mercyhurst), 1:47
184-Cody Brenner (CMU) MD Carson Mize (OSU), 12-0
197-Xander Myers (2-2)
197-Xander Myers (OSU) D Ronnie Dimmerling (KSU), 6-3
197-Xander Myers (OSU) D Brock Rios (Unat.), 5-0
197-Jude Correa (Spartan RTC) TF Xander Myers (OSU), 19-3 4:56
197-Thadd Huff (Bell) M FOR Xander Myers (OSU)
141-Brogan Fielding (2-2)
141-Brogan Fielding (Unat.-OSU) MD Cole Krutzfeldt (Unat.), 16-8
141-Brogan Fielding (Unat.-OSU) TF Brady Mercer (Spartan RTC), 17-2 5:00
141-Luke Satriano (Unat.-WVU) D Brogan Fielding (Unat.-OSU), 2-0
141-Kellen Aure (CMU) D Brogan Fielding (Unat.-OSU), 5-2 SV
149-Maddox Shaw (3-1/3rd)
149-Maddox Shaw (Unat.-OSU) F Lonzy Vielma (Unat.-WVU), 3:58
149-Maddox Shaw (Unat.-OSU) D Matthew Smith (Unat.-Clarion), 4-0
149-Sergio Lemley (Unat.) MD Maddox Shaw Jefferson (Unat.-OSU), 14-3
149-Maddox Shaw (Unat.-OSU) MD Carson Torres (IND), 14-5
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