The Buckeye Earns a Silver

Mendez, a sophomore with the Buckeyes, advanced to the U20 Championship Finals Monday with four victories at 65kg for Team USA. Mendez dropped his finals match 5-2 to Mohammad Shakeri of Iran. Mendez picked up a tight 2-1 decision over Mykyta Zubal (Ukraine) in the opening round before taking out Aden Sakybaev (Kyrgyzstan), 7-2, in the round of 16. Mendez kept it rolling with a decisive 13-4 decision over Ion Berghi of Moldova to advance to the semi-finals. Mendez then advanced to the U20 Championship Finals with a 3-1 win over Abdullah Toprak of Turkey.

U20 Results

65 kg – Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, Indiana/Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC), silver medal

WIN Mykyta Zubal (Ukraine), 2-1
WIN Aden Sakybaev (Kyrgyzstan), 7-2
WIN Ion Berghi (Moldova), 13-4
WIN Abdullah Toprak (Turkey), 3-1
LOSS Mohammad Shakeri (Iran), 5-2