PHILADELPHIA– The Beau Bartlett-Jesse Mendez saga has come to an end, and unfortunately for the Penn State wrestling star, he lost the last chapter.
Bartlett, who beat his 141-pound counterpart in the regular season and Big Ten Tournament, fell to him 4-1 in sudden victory.
What a fitting score that was.
In 2024, all three of the Bartlett-Mendez battles ended 4-1, with Bartlett winning in the regular season and Mendez winning the two postseason bouts, the last being in the national championship bout. This year, Bartlett won in the regular season and Big Ten Tournament (third-place match),
But in the national semifinal, with the two tied at one in sudden victory, Mendez got the takedown that made the difference.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Bartlett, who is out of eligibility, will end his time at Penn State as a three-time All-American, 2024 national finalist and three-time semifinalist without a national title.
Bartlett can still end his Penn State career on a winning track by placing third in the consolation bracket.
As for the future, maybe Mendez and Bartlett will meet in the freestyle world.
