No. 4 Ohio State tops No. 3 Iowa 27-12 to claim team title at National Duals
No. 4 Ohio State beats No. 3 Iowa 27-12 to claim National Duals title
The National Duals belong to the Buckeyes.
Ohio State stormed past No. 24 Wyoming 33-6 to kick off their weekend in Tulsa before topping No. 9 Minnesota 29-6 and upsetting No. 2 Nebraska 33-3 to earn a bid to the team finals with $200,000 on the line. In one final dominant performance of the weekend, the Bucks clobbered the No. 3 Hawkeyes, 27-12, headlined by a fall from Nic Bouzakis at 125 pounds and a tech fall from two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez at 141.
Ben Davino also notched a statement win against NCAA finalist Drake Ayala of Iowa, 10-4, while All-American Ethan Stiles added a win over Ryder Block 3-2, and Brandon Cannon majored Victor Voinovich 14-2. Nick Feldman rounded out the individual wins against Iowa with a forfeit victory at heavyweight.
The team's performance overall showed both the power and the depth of this Ohio State squad and should propel the Bucks to the No. 2 spot in the next NWCA poll behind the reigning champion Penn State on Tuesday.
Mendez, Davino, Cannon and Feldman went 4-0 individually on the weekend, with Cannon picking up the biggest win of the weekend when he topped Nebraska’s reigning champion, No. 1 Antrell Taylor, 16-4, solidifying himself as a title contender after finishing in the Round of 12 last season.
Feldman also beat a former NCAA champion against the Huskers when he topped last year’s third-place finisher AJ Ferrari 5-4 in a physical heavyweight scrap. Feldman finished fifth as a redshirt freshman in 2024 before dropping in the Round of 12 last year. He looks to be back in peak form to compete for a spot in the national finals this year.
Mendez and Davino also topped NCAA finalists in their matches with Mendez picking up a win against No. 2 Brock Hardy of Nebraska in a rematch of last year’s championship bout and Davino flexing on Ayala. Mendez’ win further build his Hodge Trophy case, while Davino showed that he’s ready to compete with the best in the country, even as a redshirt freshman.
Ohio State’s Nic Bouzakis had an impressive weekend as well, competing at 125 pounds against Minnesota and Iowa while teammate Brendan McCrone wrested (and won) at the weight against Wyoming and Nebraska. Bouzakis’ pin against Iowa certainly stood out, but his All-American win against Jore Volk of Minnesota Saturday night also gave him a statement win on his resume down at the highest weight after wrestling at 133 pounds last year.
Teammates Carson Kharchla and Dylan Fishback notched wins over All-Americans at National Duals too with Kharchla beating Chris Minto of Nebraska 5-1 and Fishback topping Silas Allred of the Huskers 8-1.
Ohio State took just nine individual losses across the weekend against Wyoming, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa, but five of those came at the hands of All-American foes including the following:
- Joey Novak (Wyoming) over Luke Geog (Ohio State), 7-0
- Max McEnelly (Minnesota) over Dylan Fishback (Ohio State), 4-1 (SV)
- Camden McDanel (Nebraska) over Seth Shumate (Ohio State), 8-2
- Michael Caliendo (Iowa) over Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State), 4-1 (SV)
- Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) over Carson Kharchla (Ohio State), 4-1 (SV)
The Bucks battled in every bout, notably taking the Hawks to overtime in two of Iowa's four wins in the national finals. This is an Ohio State team that essentially maxed out on the weekend and outperformed at every weight class. Head coach Tom Ryan has a scary squad that stepped up when it matters and will be a problem in March.
See the final results from Ohio State’s fiery bout with the Hawks that helped the Bucks earn the National Duals title:
| WEIGHT | RESULT | MATCH SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Nic Bouzakis over Dean Peterson, FALL 1:34 | 6-0, OSU |
| 133 | No. 9 Ben Davino over No. 2 Drake Ayala, 10-4 | 9-0, OSU |
| 141 | No. 1 Jesse Mendez over No. 9 Nasir Bailey, 17-1 | 14-0, OSU |
| 149 | No. 9 Ethan Stiles over Ryder Block, 3-2 | 17-0, OSU |
| 157 | No. 8 Brandon Cannon over Victor Voinovich, 14-2 | 21-0, OSU |
| 165 | No. 2 Michael Caliendo over No. 12 Paddy Gallagher, 4-1 (SV) | 21-3, OSU |
| 174 | No. 2 Patrick Kennedy over No. 9 Carson Kharchla, 4-1 (SV) | 21-6, OSU |
| 184 | No. 3 Angelo Ferrari over No. 7 Dylan Fishback, 4-1 (SV) | 21-9, OSU |
| 197 | No. 16 Massoma Endene over Seth Shumate, 8-3 | 21-21, OSU |
| 285 | No. 5 Ben Kueter by forfeit | 27-12, OSU |
285 pounds: No. 6 Nick Feldman wins by forfeit
Feldman concludes his perfect weekend with six team points by way of a forfeit against the Hawks.
In the final match of the event Iowa forfeits at heavyweight.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
Ohio State wins the 2025 National Duals Invitational with a 27-12 victory.
197 pounds: No. 16 Massoma Endene tops Seth Shumate, 8-3
THIRD PERIOD: Shot from Shumate. He nearly picked up the takedown on the edge, but Endene fights off. Endene warned for stalling. Shot from Shumate and, once again, he nearly scrambles into the takedown, but Endene works to the edge and avoids giving up the points. He takes the win 8-3. ;
Mo with a dub. 🔥
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling)
197 – #16 Massoma Endene (I) dec. Seth Schumate (O), 8-3
Ohio State 21, Iowa 12
SECOND PERIOD: Takedown Endene and nearly picks up the fall. He settles for four back points instead to light up the scoreboard. He leads 8-3 with 15 seconds to go in the second period. Endene ends the period on top.
FIRST PERIOD: Huge move from Endene to drive into a shot that nearly put Shumate on his back, but both athletes regain their composure and return to neutral. Shot from Shumate! No points. Another shot from Shumate, and this time he converts. The Buckeye leads 3-0. Endene escapes to put himself on the board.
184 pounds: No. 3 Angelo Ferrari outscores No. 7 Dylan Fishback, 4-1 (SV)
OVERTIME: Angelo Ferrari puts three more points on the board for Iowa with a gritty overtime takedown in the second minute. He remains undefeated on the season and picks up a top-ten win against Fishback.
Ferrari takes the 𝘞. 😤
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling)
84 – #3 Angelo Ferrari (I) dec. #7 Dylan Fishback (O), 4-1 SV1
Ohio State 21, Iowa 9
THIRD PERIOD: Ferrari chooses down to start the third period and escapes quickly, tying the score. Riding time is not a factor. One minute to go. Takedown Ferrari. What a clutch takedown for the Hawkeye. He leads 4-1. Ohio State challenges. No takedown. Back to overtime!
SECOND PERIOD: Ohio State's Dylan Fishback chooses down to start the second period and escapes. With less than a minute to go, we're scrambling (off of Fishback's solid shot). Stalemate. Fishback's escape proved to be the only point of the period, and he'll carry his 1-0 lead into the third.
FIRST PERIOD: Scoreless first period.
174 pounds: No. 2 Patrick Kennedy beats No. 9 Carson Kharchla, 4-1
OVERTIME: Takedown Kennedy. Kharchla works to scramble out, but Kennedy stays tough. Takedown Kennedy. That's back-to-back overtime wins for Iowa.
Kennedy getting the job done! 💪
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling)
174 – #2 Patrick Kennedy (I) dec. #9 Carson Kharchla (O), 4-1 SV1
Ohio State 21, Iowa 6
THIRD PERIOD: Kennedy chooses down to start the third period and escapes quickly. Shot from Kharchla. No takedown. Let's go to overtime.
SECOND PERIOD: Kennedy defers to start the second period. Kharchla chooses down and escapes within 15 seconds. Shot from Kharchla. Stalemate. This is a workmanlike match between two hard-nosed athletes. Kharchla's escape is the difference, as the Buckeye leads 1-0 heading into the third period.
FIRST PERIOD: These upperweights know how to move! After a burst of explosion from both athletes, Patrick Kennedy and Carson Kharchla hit a stalemate a little over two minutes into the match. The first period ends scoreless.
165 pounds: No. 2 Michael Caliendo takes down No. 12 Paddy Gallagher, 4-1
THIRD PERIOD: Caliendo chooses down to start the third period and escapes immediately. This one is all tied up. Less than a minute to go. This kind of low-scoring affair is uncharacteristic for Caliendo. Thirty seconds. Gallagher goes in for a double leg, but Caliendo stands tough. Ten seconds. Let's go to overtime! Takedown Caliendo! He wins 4-1. The Hawks are on the board!
Caliendo with the 𝗪.
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling)
165 – #2 Michael Caliendo (I) dec. #12 Paddy Gallagher (O), 4-1 SV1
Ohio State 21, Iowa 3
SECOND PERIOD: Gallagher chooses down to start the second period, and Caliendo shoves him down for a tough mat return on the edge. Gallagher escapes under a minute to put himself on the board first. The Buckeye has done a nice job slowing down the pace of his Hawkeye foe.
FIRST PERIOD: This is Iowa's moment to re-right the ship, as NCAA finalist Mikey Caliendo takes the mat against Ohio State's Paddy Gallagher. Caliendo has been driving the pace, but Gallagher is wrestling tough defensively against the three-time All-American Hawkeye. No score in the first period.
157 pounds: No. 8 Brandon Cannon majors Victor Voinovich, 14-2
THIRD PREIOD: Shot from Cannon! Another takedown for the Buckeye. He's putting on a clinic in front of his Tulsa crowd. Voinovich goes in for a shot, but Cannon looks too comfortable in the scramble and converts into a shot of his own. Stalemate. Quick ankle pick from Cannon. Nothing. Cannon worked for the tech fall, but he'll settle for the 14-2 major decision. That's more bonus points for the Bucks!
Cannon cruises to a 14-2 win by major decision.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
OSU 21, Iowa 0
SECOND PERIOD: Cannon came to scramble! Voinovich warned for stalling. Takedown Cannon! He leads 6-0. Voinovich escapes. The Buckeye leads 9-1 heading into the third period.
FIRST PERIOD: Brandon Cannon, a Big Ten finalist last year, gets in on the first shot, but Voinovich holds him off. Takedown Cannon! He leads 3-0 to end the first period.
149 pounds: No. 9 Ethan Stiles tops Ryder Block, 3-2
THIRD PERIOD: Block chooses down to start the third period, and Stiles let him up. Block leads 1-0. Takedown Stiles! The Buckeye is back in the driver's seat with a 3-1 lead. The athletes scramble out of bounds. Block tries to scramble out, but Stiles holds on. He maintains Ohio State's perfect performance so far with the 3-2 win after Block is awarded the riding time point.
Stiles rallies to win 3-2 by decision.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
OSU 17, Iowa 0
SECOND PERIOD: Stiles chooses down to start the second period. Block puts on a tough ride to kick off the period and works to create some energy and momentum for the Hawkeyes. He stays on top of Stiles as the Buckeye scrambles across the mat in an effort to escape. Block pushes riding time up over a minute. Stiles escapes. Brands challenges the escapes. The refs return Brands brick and elect to review the call themselves. Call overturned. Stiles works into an opportune scramble, but he's called for potentially dangerous to pause the action. Stiles reaches back for Block's ankle and nearly picks up a last second reversal. The period ends scoreless, but Block holds 2:00 in riding time.
FIRST PERIOD: Ryder Block makes the first move and nearly picks up the takedown before moving out of bounds against the All-American transfer Ethan Stiles. The first period ends scoreless.
141 pounds: No. 1 Jesse Mendez vs. No. 9 Nasir Bailey
THIRD PERIOD: Bailey chooses neutral to start the third period. Shot from Mendez! Bailey works out of the shot but moves out of bounds and is hit for stalling again. That warning gives Mendez two more points. Takedown Mendez! That's a 17-1 tech for the senior. He adds five team points to Ohio State's dominant start!
Mendez gets the technical fall with a 17-1 win.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
OSU 14, Iowa 0
SECOND PERIOD: Mendez chose neutral and kicks off the second period by looking for another takedown on the edge. Bailey is hit for stalling again which gives Mendez another point. The Buckeye leads 9-1 with 1:00 of riding time. Shot from Mendez! Takedown! He's riding tough and trying to work for back points. He ends the second period on top as well, moving into the third period with a 12-1 lead and 1:39 riding time.
FIRST PERIOD: Iowa's Nasir Bailey is hit for stalling within seconds of taking on the two-time defending champion. Mendez is running this match early. Takedown Mendez on the edge — that's some high IQ wrestling right there. Bailey escapes, but he's hit for stalling again, giving Mendez another point. Mendez takes another shot. Takedown Mendez! He's going to work on top. Both athletes move out of bounds. Mendez ends the period on top with over 60 seconds of riding time.
133 pounds: No. 9 Ben Davino upsets No. 2 Drake Ayala 10-4
THIRD PERIOD: Ayala chooses down to start the third period. He escapes to get out of bonus territory, trailing 10-4. Ninety seconds remaining. One minute. Thirty seconds. Davino takes the upset win over the two-time finalist. The Buckeyes lead 9-0 after two weights.
Davino knocks off Ayala by decision, 10-4.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
OSU 9, Iowa 0
SECOND PERIOD: Davino chooses down to start the second period and escapes. He leads 7-2. Takedown Davino! The Buckeye is now in bonus territory. Escape Ayala. Davino leads 10-3 heading into the third period.
FIRST PERIOD: Ohio State is feeling ALL of the momentum after Bouzakis' pin! Redshirt freshman Ben Davino jumps out to a hot start with a takedown over NCAA finalist Drake Ayala for a 3-0 lead. Ayala escapes quickly and puts himself on the board, but he still trails Davino 3-1. Davino picks up another takedown. The Bucks came to scrap! Ayala escapes again. He trails 6-2 to end the period.
125 pounds: Nic Bouzakis pins No. 10 Dean Peterson
After a delayed start due to TV programming, wrestling is LIVE!
FIRST PERIOD: Ohio State has options at 125 pounds, but tonight is Nic Bouzakis' moment. The 133-pound national qualifier from last year has cut down to take on Dean Peterson, a senior transfer Blood Round lightweight from Rutgers. These two have never met in college, but they'll change that now on a national stage.
Bouzakis looks big down at 125 pounds, but he's clearly powerful. Peterson makes the first move with a single leg, and we're scrambling. Bouzakis works into an offensive position from the scramble and picks up the first takedown. Bouzkais readjusts and works for the fall! That's a pin for the Buckeye.
Bouzakis starts out with a pin at 1:34 and six team points for the Buckeyes.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks)
OSU 6, Iowa 0.
We are ready! and advance to the National Duals Invitational championship! Tune into ESPN2 tonight at 6 p.m. CT as they battle for the $200,000 grand prize.
— National Duals Invitational (@NDIWrestling)
National Duals background
The 2025 National Duals offers fans a new way to experience the sport, showcasing 16 of the nation's top teams in a bracketed event where all ten weights matter and winning teams, as oppose to winning individuals, advance.
The top 12 teams from last year's NCAA tournament were invited to participate while the final four teams were chosen as part of a lottery amongst the remaining teams that finished in the top 24 at NCAAs last year.
The event is hosted by the Oklahoma State Cowboys and housed at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Paycom sponsored the event and has offered over $1 million in total prize money for winning and participating teams. No. 3 Iowa and No. 4 Ohio State's paths to the finals are in bold below:
First round results:
- Iowa over Missouri, 34-3
- Illinois over Little Rock, 22-13
- NC State over Northern Iowa, 27-8
- Oklahoma State over Cornell, 22-12
- Ohio State over Wyoming, 33-6
- Minnesota over Virginia Tech, 19-17
- Michigan over Arizona State, 30-10
- Nebraska over Lehigh, 35-7
Second round (quarterfinal) results:
- Iowa over Illinois, 24-13
- Oklahoma State over NC State, 23-11
- Ohio State over Minnesota, 29-6
- Nebraska over Michigan, 24-14
Third round (semifinal) results:
- Iowa over Oklahoma State, 18-16
- Ohio State over Nebraska, 33-3
Probable lineups
The 2025 National Duals final will be a Big Ten showdown between the No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes. Here are the probable lineups for each squad as these teams prepare to compete for a $200,000 prize.
Note: Team rankings are based on the NWCA Coaches poll, not National Dual seeds. Individual rankings are based on Intermat.
| WEIGHT | NO. 3 IOWA HAWKEYES | NO. 4 OHIO STATE BUCKEYES |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | No. 10 Dean Peterson OR Leo DeLuca | No. 16 Brendan McCrone OR Nic Bouzakis |
| 133 | No. 2 Drake Ayala | No. 9 Ben Davino |
| 141 | No. 9 Nasir Bailey OR Jace Rhodes | No. 1 Jesse Mendez |
| 149 | Ryder Block OR No. 29 Kael Voinovich | Maddox Shaw OR No. 9 Ethan Stiles |
| 157 | No. 11 Jordan Williams OR Victor Voinovich | No. 8 Brandon Cannon OR Landon Desselle |
| 165 | No. 2 Michael Caliendo | e'Than Birden OR No. 12 Paddy Gallagher |
| 174 | No. 2 Patrick Kennedy | No. 9 Carson Kharchla |
| 184 | No. 3 Angelo Ferrari OR Gabe Arnold | No. 7 Dylan Fishback OR Cayaen Smith |
| 197 | No. 16 Massoma Endene | No. 13 Luke Geog OR Seth Shumate |
| 285 | No. 5 Ben Kueter OR Gage Marty | No. 6 Nick Feldman |