Penn State wrestling veteran vying in three-way race for NCAA title in 2025

While the NCAA Wrestling season is just around the corner, the 141-pound weight class is setting up to be an exciting three-way race. The competition features 2024 NCAA Champion Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, 2023 NCAA Champion Andrew Alirez of Northern Colorado, and 2023 National Semifinalist and 2024 NCAA Runner-Up Beau Bartlett of the Penn State wrestling program.

After considering what contender brings to the mat, what are Bartlett’s chances of finishing atop the podium in 2025?

Jesse Mendez – Ohio State

© Reese Strickland-Imagn Images

In just his second season with the Buckeyes, Jesse Mendez won a National Championship and finished with an impressive 29-2 record. He had a 68.75% bonus percentage and earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Mendez fell to Penn State wrestling’s Beau Bartlett in a 4-1 sudden victory during last February’s dual matchup before rebounding for 4-1 wins at both the Big Ten Championship and NCAA Championships Final. He holds a 48-11 career record and is ranked No. 2 nationally heading into the 2025 season.

Andrew Alirez – Northern Colorado

© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bursting onto the scene and qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a true freshman, Andrew Alirez has had more of a slow build to the top of the 141-pound weight class.

His sophomore season cut short due to injury, Alirez made it to the round of 12 in 2022 before breaking through and winning the National Championship in 2023. Alirez redshirted in 2024, which allowed for the head-to-head matchup between Mendez and Bartlett in the final.

Alirez holds a 72-10 record with a 55.26% bonus percentage. He enters as InterMat’s preseason No. 1 and is the favorite of many to win his second National Championship.

Beau Bartlett – Penn State

© Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

It’s been close, but no cigar for Beau Bartlett throughout his Penn State wrestling career. After qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2022, Bartlett made consecutive NCAA Semifinals in both 2023 and 2024, appearing in the Final last season.

Bartlett has a 74-18 career record with a 30.43% bonus percentage. He has never been a flashy wrestler, as evidenced by his bonus percentage, but he has consistently found ways to win. Bartlett ranks No. 3 in the InterMat preseason rankings and will certainly be an underdog to return to the NCAA Final this spring.

NCAA seeding will be critical in 2025

The seeding at 141 pounds for the 2025 NCAA Championships will be critical for all three contenders. With an odd number of top contenders, two of the wrestlers will likely have to face off in the semifinals, while the other will have a more straightforward path. It’s most likely that this matchup would be the No. 2 versus No. 3 seed, making the No. 1 seed critical.

Mendez and Bartlett will certainly have better resumes competing in the Big Ten. They will get a chance to face each other in the dual season and at the Big Ten Championships. On the other hand, if the two wrestlers split the season series, that will open the door for Alirez to find his way to the No. 1 seed.

Bartlett came incredibly close to overtaking Mendez in the 2024 NCAA Final but came up just short. Winning the Big Ten Championship could be enough to get the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, eliminating one of the tough opponents. He certainly is capable of beating both Mendez and Alirez, and another year in the Penn State wrestling room will certainly help.

While the NWCA All-Star Classic doesn’t officially count towards each wrestler’s record, the matchup between Jesse Mendez and Beau Bartlett will kick off the season by letting each other know where they stand at the top of the weight class.

The classic will take place on Saturday, November 16, at Rec Hall and will stream exclusively on FloWrestling.

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