Finals set for National Duals Invitational sponsored by Paycom- Iowa, Ohio State wrestle for event title, prize money

No. 1 Iowa and No. 3 Ohio State will go toe-to-toe at 6 p.m. tonight in the BOK Center for the $200,000 grand prize in the National Duals Invitational sponsored by Paycom. The runner-up will take home $150,000. 

The Buckeyes won nine of 10 bouts to claim a 30-3 win over No. 2 Nebraska in the semifinals this morning. Returning NCAA champion and top-ranked Jesse Mendez scored a late takedown in a 2025 NCAA finals rematch to edge out Huskers’ national runner-up Brock Hardy, 4-1. At 157 pounds, Ohio State’s Brandon Cannon earned a major decision over returning national champion and top-ranked Antrell Taylor at 157 pounds. No. 9 Carson Kharchla and No. 7 Dylan Fishback also tallied upsets at 174 and 184, respectively. Sixth-ranked Nick Feldman put an exclamation point on the Buckeyes’ win, dethroning past NCAA champion and No. 1 AJ Ferrari, 5-4, in the heavyweight finale.

The Hawkeyes earned their spot in the final after an 18-10 win over No. 4 Oklahoma State. Despite getting upset at 141 and 165, Iowa struck back, collecting upsets of their own at 125, 149 and 197 pounds. To kick off the dual, Iowa’s Dean Peterson, ranked No. 10, took out NCAA runner-up and No. 2 Troy Spratley with a takedown in the final five seconds of the match. An early takedown gave Ryder Block the advantage over No. 4 Casey Swiderski at 149 pounds, while a third-period takedown propelled unranked Massoma Endene past No. 9 Cody Merrill at 197. 

Fans can watch the finals live on ESPN2. 

While the $200,000 prize winner has yet to be determined, six other schools secured their prize money this morning in the placement matches.

Third place - Oklahoma State, $150,000

Fourth place - Nebraska, $75,000

Fifth place - Minnesota, $50,000 

Sixth place - Virginia Tech, $40,000
Seventh place - Illinois, $25,000

Eighth place - Missouri, $20,000

Championship matchup
No. 3 Iowa vs. No. 4 Ohio State

Semifinals results

No. 3 Iowa 18, No. 5 Oklahoma State 16

125: No. 10 Dean Peterson (IOWA) dec. No. 2 Troy Spratley (OKST), 5-4

133: No. 2 Drake Ayala (IOWA) dec. Ronnie Ramirez (OKST), 7-4

141: Sergio Vega (OKST) dec. No. 9 Nasir Bailey (IOWA), 3-0 SV

149: Ryder Block (IOWA) dec. No. 4 Casey Swiderski (OKST), 5-3

157: No. 4 Landon Robideau (OKST) MD Victor Voinovich (IOWA), 16-5

165: No. 4 LaDarion Lockett (OKST) dec. No. 2 Michael Caliendo (IOWA), 7-3

174: No. 2 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) dec. No. 10 Alex Facundo (OKST), 4-1 SV 

184: No. 2 Angelo Ferrari (IOWA) dec. No. 4 Zach Ryder (OKST), 4-2

197: Massoma Endene (IOWA) dec. No. 9 Cody Merrill (OKST), 4-3

HWT: No. 9 Konner Doucet (OKST) win by forfeit

No. 4 Ohio State 33, No. 2 Nebraska 3

125: No. 16 Brendan McCrone (OHST) dec. Alan Koehler (NEB), 5-0

133: No. 8 Ben Davino (OHST) MD Omar Ayoub (NEB), 11-2

141: No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST) dec. No. 2 Brock Hardy (NEB), 4-1

149: No. 10 Ethan Stiles (OHST) fall Nikade Zinkin (NEB), 4:48

157: No. 9 Brandon Cannon (OHST) MD No. 1 Antrell Taylor (NEB), 16-4

165: No. 16 Paddy Gallagher (OHST) MD No. 18 LJ Araujo (NEB), 10-1

174: No. 9 Carson Kharhcla (OHST) dec. No. 4 Christopher Minto (NEB), 5-1

184: No. 7 Dylan Fishback (OHST) dec. No. 6 Silas Allred (NEB), 8-1

197: No. 7 Camden McDanel (NEB) dec. Seth Shumate (OHST), 8-2

HWT: No. 6 Nick Feldman (OHST) dec. No. 1 AJ Ferrari (NEB), 5-4

Third-place results

No. 5 Oklahoma State 33, No. 2 Nebraska 6

125: No. 2 Troy Spratley (OKST) fall Alan Koehler (NEB), 2:59

133: Ronnie Ramirez (OKST) dec. Kale Lauridsen (NEB), 9-3 

141: No. 20 Sergio Vega (OKST) MD No. 2 Brock Hardy (NEB), 13-2

149: No. 4 Casey Swiderski (OKST) dec. Nikade Zinkin, 7-6

157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OKST) TF Dez Garterell (NEB), 21-6, 6:45

165: No. 6 LaDarion Lockett (OKST) wins by forfeit

174: No. 17 Alex Facundo (OKST) dec. No. 4 Christopher Minto (NEB), 2-1

184: No. 6 Silas Allred (NEB) dec. No. 4 Zach Ryder (OKST), 5-2 SV

197: No. 9 Cody Merrill (OKST) dec. No. 7 Camden McDanel (NEB), 2-1 TB1

HWT: No. 1 AJ Ferrari (NEB) dec. No. 9 Konner Doucet (OKST), 2-1

Fifth-place results

No. 9 Minnesota 25, No. 10 Virginia Tech 10

125: No. 8 Jore Volk (MINN) dec. No. 4 Eddie Ventresca (VT), 4-2

133: No. 15 Dillon Campbell (VT) dec. Brandon Morvari (MINN), 2-0

141: No. 5 Vance VomBaur (MINN) dec. No. 17 Tom Crook (VT), 4-1

149: Noah Nininger (VT) MD Jager Eisch (MINN), 16-4

157: No. 20 Charlie Millard (MINN) dec. Collin Gaj (VT), 9-4

165: No. 10 Andrew Sparks (MINN) MD Ryan Burton (VT), 11-2

174: No. 22 Ethan Riddle (MINN) MD No. 23 Sergio Desiante (VT), 15-4

184: No. 1 Max McEnelly (MINN) TF No. 23 Jaden Bullock (VT), 22-5, 6:05

197: No. 27 Sonny Sasso (VT) dec. Gabe Nagel (MINN), 9-8

HWT: Bennett Tabor (MINN) dec. No. 19 Jimmy Mullen (VT), 3-2

Seventh-place results

No. 15 Illinois 26, No. 16 Missouri 18

125: No. 16 Spencer Moore (ILL) dec. Mack Mauger (MIZ), 4-0

133: No. 1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) fall No. 20 Kade Moore (MIZ), 1:13

141: No. 22 Zeke Selter (MIZ) dec. Kole Brower (ILL), 5-1

149: Will Baysingar (ILL) dec. Easton Hilton (MIZ), 2-1 TB1

157: No. 8 Kannon Webster (ILL) dec. Seth Mendoza (MIZ), 5-3

165: No. 9 Braeden Scoles (ILL) TF Joel Mylin (MIZ), 21-5, 5:44

174: Colin Kelly (ILL) INJ. Def No. 16 Cam Steed (MIZ), 0:24

184: No. 9 Aeoden Sinclair (MIZ) dec. Chris Moore (ILL), 7-2

197: No. 14 Evan Bates (MIZ) MFOR Dylan Connell (ILL)

HWT: No. 25 Jarrett Stoner wins by forfeit