Ohio State’s Ben Davino became the first Buckeye to win a U23 world championship, taking the 61-kilogram freestyle crown in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas played host to a milestone moment in collegiate wrestling over the weekend, as Ben Davino of Ohio State became the first Buckeye to win a U23 World Championship. According to Ohio State Athletics, Davino captured the 61 kg freestyle title Saturday in Las Vegas, giving the program a first-ever gold at the age-group world level.
For local sports fans, the result underscores how often Las Vegas now serves as a stage for elite amateur competition, not just pro events and fight weekends. The city’s sports calendar regularly pulls in national and international talent, and Davino’s title added another high-level result to that mix.
Ohio State said Davino’s victory came in the 2026 U23 World Championships. The team’s release did not include a local venue name, but the title match itself was decided in Las Vegas, putting the city at the center of a breakthrough in a major wrestling program’s history.
Details: Ohio State Athletics reported the win at ohiostatebuckeyes.com.