BOOM!
Crown Point (IN) wrestling standout Jesse Mendez has committed to Ohio State over Iowa, Penn State, Michigan and Indiana.
The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class according to MatScouts has been a priority for Tom Ryan and his staff since they began planning for this class. He projects as a 141-pound prospect in the Buckeyes lineup.
During his prep career, Mendez has won three Indiana state titles. As a freshman Mendez won the 126-pound title via 6-0 decision, then as a sophomore he won the 132-pound title via 25-13 major decision, and as a junior he won the 138-pound title via fall one minute into the first period.
As for the freestyle scene, Mendez represented the United States in the Junior world championship in Ufa, Russia from Aug.16-22.
Before worlds though he visited Ohio State for an official visit from June 4-6. On that visit he was joined by now Ohio State commits Nic Bouzakis, Nick Feldman, Seth Shumate and Gavin Brown.
While the Buckeyes received Mendez’s lone summer official visit that doesn’t mean he didn’t visit this fall. Before taking the rest of his official visits Mendez made the trek down to Columbus once again on Sept. 25 when Ohio State football took on Oregon.
Those visits to Columbus made him comfortable with Ohio State. However, it was the coaching staff and their plan for him that ultimately led Mendez to pick the Buckeyes.
With exactly one week until National Signing Day, Mendez commitment gives the Buckeyes five top-100 wrestlers and three top-five prospects in the 2022 class.
As a result, Tom Ryan and his coaching staff are in line to sign another No. 1 class with Mendez as the headliner.
