Mendez Takes out Alirez

In a much-anticipated bout between the last two Division 1 NCAA champions at 141 pounds, Ohio State's Jesse Mendez outlasted Northern Colorado’s Andrew Alirez in a tight, 4-1, freestyle contest Tuesday at Ziegfeld Ballroom, the site of the 2024 Beat the Streets Annual Benefit.

The two haven’t faced one another previously, which appeared evident in a match that presented itself as a feeling out process for potential high-caliber battles to come next college season and beyond.

Mendez took a 1-0 lead to the break thanks to an activity time point. Alirez returned the favor in the early stages of the second frame to knot things up, 1-1. Mendez opened the offensive scoring by driving Alirez off the mat, picking up a step out point and a 2-1 advantage. The Buckeye iced the match at the buzzer by countering an Alirez desperation attempt for an additional two points.

Both Alirez and Mendez were top performers at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 65 kg and boast elite freestyle chops. Mendez earned a silver medal at last year’s U20 World Championships and holds the No. 4 rank on the U.S. Senior National Team. Alirez was a NCAA champion in 2023 at 141 pounds, while Mendez took the same honor in 2024.