THE LANTERN
Ohio State’s independent student voice since 1881.
‘No person should be hungry:’ Where students can access food resources near campus amid federal funding cuts
Mariam Abaza
LTV Special Projects Producer
Amid uncertainties with federal food resource funding and budget cuts, various local organizations have stepped up to meet the needs of the Columbus community.
According to Ohio State’s 2024 Student Life survey, it is estimated that 32 percent of the student population is food insecure, per prior Lantern reporting. Though not all of these students qualify for federal food assistance, food insecurity continues to significantly affect Ohio State students.
At the time of publication, the government has been in the longest shutdown ever-recorded of 36 days, according to the New York Times. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, more commonly known as SNAP, benefits were going to be cut due to the shutdown, prior to a federal judge ruling that the government must partially fund the benefits until the government opens up.
From statewide food pantries to community initiatives, there are many places where students can access groceries and meals free of cost.
Resources on campus
we’ve diversified our supply chain to include increasing our request for community support, and will continue to assist students for applying for government benefits for future use and link students to off campus resources like other local food pantries for varied selection and multiple use.”
The Monda Student Resource Center, located on the first floor of the Younkin Success Center, offers free resources to help students meet essential needs such as food, clothing and housing. The center’s Student Food Pantry provides fresh produce, pantry staples, meat and dairy products, personal care items and more, according to its website.
“Our selection changes daily but always includes shelf stable and fresh grocery items, toiletries, and household items, and we do not limit the amount of times a student can place orders,” Morgan Vibbert, associate director of the Student Wellness Center, said in an email.
Any student with a valid BuckID can request resources from the pantry through the ordering form located on the center’s website.
The center also offers aid in finding other avenues of food assistance if necessary.
“We offer many resources and services for students to supplement cost of living so they can prioritize their education,” Vibbert said. “For food assistance,
The center aims to provide resources to students so they can focus on their education, Vibbert said.
“OSU students may struggle to succeed academically because essential needs, such as food, housing or clothing, are not met,” Vibbert said. “The Monda Student Resource Center enhances students’ holistic, essential needs through resources and support from campus and community partners.”
The center’s food pantry is open Mondays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Another resource on campus is the ACES Food Pantry, offered by College of Education and Human Ecology and Advocates for Communities and Education Scholars program. The pantry offers free food resources and hygiene kits for all Ohio State students, according to their website.
Students can collect five items and a hygiene kit at each visit. The pantry is located in the A100 suite of the Physical Activity and Educational Services building and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Resources off-campus in Columbus
The Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio operates a food pantry on 1460 S. Champion Ave. on Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Fridays from noon to 2 p.m.
The pantry accepts walk-ins during business hours. Students can also make appointments for larger orders on the services website.
FOOD RESOURCES continue on page 3.
A woman browses items while in line at a Mid-Ohio Food Collective food bank. Credit: Courtesy of Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
CAMPUS
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Veteran’s Day ceremony on campus. Accessing food resources on campus.
Threes Above High threatens to press charges on Ohio State student after bathroom vandalization
Ally Wolfe Campus Senior Writer
Ceiling tiles covering the floor, a shattered glass mirror, strained electrical wires and champagne sprayed the bathroom walls.
That was the aftermath inside Threes Above High on Oct. 24 after an Ohio State student vandalized the popular campus bar — an act he posted from his personal Snapchat account — which led the bar to ban him just hours later.
The bar, located on the corner of Norwich and High Street, said they have decided to press charges on the student at fault, Diego Hernandez, a fourth-year in operations management.
“That’s more than a bar mat or a broken toilet, that’s thousands of dollars of repair,” Scott Ellsworth, owner of Threes, said over an Instagram direct message. “Most things we take care of in house, but this event seemed a bit more aggressive and vile in nature, so our hope is this can be a learning experience.”
The Lantern reached out to Hernandez for comment, but he did not respond prior to publication.
A image posted by the Threes Above High Instagram account on Oct. 25 shows the vandalized bathroom.
Credit: Courtesy of Threes Above High
Hernandez reached out to Three’s the following day in an attempt to apologize for his actions for the incident and Ellsworth said they encouraged him to reach out to his attorney.
The incident was brought into the public eye after Hernandez’s video was re-posted on a Three’s Instagram post the following day with the caption, “Your parents always try to teach you that what you do on social media is forever. Apparently @diego_h3rnandez is about to learn the hard way @theohiostateuniversity.”
Hernandez’s account has since been deactivated.
Ellsworth said he knew who did it and saw the video almost immediately after it happened because of how many patrons sent it to him.
“Our customers are devout to us,” Ellsworth said. “They sent that to us so quickly it wasn’t funny. I knew more about this guy within an hour than I know about some of my family.”
However, it was not just the customers showing their support for the local dive bar. Other bars and restaurants across campus could not believe what had happened to the bathroom — and the fact that it had been recorded.
Some bars on campus including Eupouria, The Little Bar, Library Bar, Mikey’s Late Night Slice and Out-r-Inn
shared their disbelief and support in the comments of the post.
“His friend even knew he’d be caught before the sun came up — he tried to get out of that shot real quick,” Eupouria wrote in their comment, referring to the man who was in the bathroom with Hernandez during the vandalism.
Ellsworth said the support from the other bars has been expectantly excellent.
“These bars are our family here on campus,” Ellsworth said. “We thrive together and look out for one another. It’s something we’re very proud of.”
As a result of the incident, Hernandez has been banned from a few of the campus bars too.
“Hopefully this will serve as an opportunity to grow and be accountable for this guy, the only way to get better is to learn from our mistakes,” Library Bar said on its Instagram. “Keep it classy out there yall, don’t be like this guy.”
Another post on Oct. 25 came from the bar’s Instagram, insinuating the legal repercussions Hernandez was going to face for his actions. The post was a screenshot of a group chat where the attorney representing the bar, Edward Hastie III of Hastie Legal LLC, sent an image with the Three’s mascot chasing a man with the wording, “Diego didn’t stand a chance!”
“Nothing funnier than the destruction of private property apparently, really sorry this happened to you guys,” Mikey’s Late Night Slice commented under the post, accompanied with an eye roll emoji.
Ellsworth said the message they wanted to send by posting about the incident on their account was a threat to those like Hernandez.
“Don’t [f***] with us or other small businesses on campus, because we’ll all put you on blast,” Ellsworth said. “We have a business where we pride ourselves in customers and staff feeling safe and when that’s jeopardized we take that extremely personal.”
Tradition of remembrance continues at Veterans Day “Rock” Ceremony
Xiyonne McCullough
Patricia B. Miller Special Projects Reporter
The sound of a 21-gun salute echoed across the Oval Wednesday morning as Ohio State honored those who have served and sacrificed for the United States.
The university’s annual “Rock” Ceremony gathered veterans and community members outside University Hall to pay respects to Buckeye veterans. Speakers included Provost Ravi Bellamkonda and Josh Davis, president of the Student Veterans Association.
Standing before a crowd, Davis spoke about what it means to serve both on and off the battlefield.
“This ceremony reminds us why service and sacrifice mat ter — not only in uniform, but in the ways we continue to serve after coming home,” Davis said. “Today, as we gather around this rock, we’re reminded that the values we carry in service — duty, integrity and respect — still guide us here.”
the crowd. “We recognize those former students, but in doing so, it’s our duty to also honor their families.”
He added that Ohio State now serves more than 2,300 military-connected students, including over 500 student veterans, and employs about 1,600 faculty and staff members who are veterans.
“It is significant and a matter of pride that Ohio State is one of the most military-friendly campuses in the United States,” Bellamkonda said.
The ceremony also included an address to the university’s ROTC programs and the traditional 21-gun salute — a military honor traditionally performed to show respect for fallen service members.
Davis said the association continues to provide a space for connection and belonging among students who’ve served.
Food resources off campus
TheMid-Ohio Food Collective operates multiple pantries and community kitchens in 20 counties throughout the state, according to its website.
“Folks are able to visit any of our partner distribution sites to receive emergency groceries that they can take home and prepare for their families whether you’re a college student, you’re a single person, you’re a senior,” Brad Draper, senior vice president of operations at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, said. “Anybody who needs emergency food can come see us.”
The aim of the collective is to aid as many people as possible in battling food insecurity, Draper said.
“Right now, we have too many neighbors who need help putting food on their table, so our goal is to serve as many of them as possible,” Draper said. “[We are] also partnering with our communities to try to lift everybody out of poverty and improve the health and the well-being of our community at large.”
There are dozens of food pantries in Columbus and the surrounding area. Students can find the closest distribution point to them by visiting freshtrak.com and entering their zip code.
New initiatives in response to federal funding cuts
In response to recent federal funding cuts, MyProjectUSA, a local nonprofit, unveiled The Community Table to provide free hot meals and grocery boxes to families and individuals who need food assistance.
The initiative began Tuesday and seeks to hand out 100 hot meals a
day for the first week before increasing to 200 meals a day in later weeks, said Abid.
The meals will be handed out on a first-come first-serve basis Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at 3275 Sullivant Ave.
Abid hopes that this resource will aid students struggling with food insecurity, she said.
“It will really fill the gap until some of these things are changed, or some of the restrictions are drawn,” Abid said. “We believe that this cooked food — the hot meals — are going to be very very big support for [students] because they can come pick up their meals, have the food, and then go back to college or go back to what they need to get done.”
Another initiative created in response to the announced SNAP funding cuts is The Porch Pantry, founded by Sarah Maggied on Oct. 27 after she reached out to friends on her personal Facebook seeking a way to help people affected by cuts to food funding.
“I was just following the news and it was keeping me up at night. There’s nothing worse than not knowing where your next meal is coming from,” Maggied said.
MID-OHIO FOOD COLECTIVE
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After the remarks, the crowd turned their attention to the Veterans Memorial Rock, where Bellamkonda and Davis placed a wreath of honor.
Bellamkonda spoke about the university’s long tradition of military service and the importance of upholding that history.
“It is truly humbling to be part of this tradition,” Bellamkonda said to
“We provide a space to connect, share resources and remind one another that we belong,” Davis said.
The annual event, held ahead of Veterans Day, continues to unite members of the Ohio State community in remembrance of those who’ve served.
Ohio State will observe Veterans Day on Nov. 11, with no classes and offices closed.
Veterans and community members gather for Wednesday’s Rock Ceremony.
XIYONNE MCCULLOUGH | PATRICIA B. MILLER SPECIAL PROJECTS REPORTER
The Buckeye Food Alliance offers a food pantry to Ohio State students.
NATHAN MADER | LANTERN FILE PHOTO
ARTS & LIFE
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LGBTQ+ owned businesses in the Short North.
Cartoonist Raina Telgemeier to return to Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum for “Facing Feelings” book tour Saturday
Grayson Newbourn and Helena Hennessy
Managing Arts & Life Editor and Arts & Life Senior Writer
Based on her 2023 exhibit at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, cartoonist Raina Telgemeier released her latest graphic novel, “Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier,” Oct. 21, which encompasses Telgemeier’s nearly 20-yearlong career as an acclaimed cartoonist and how she got there, according to her website.
Telgemeier will be returning to the museum Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. for a conversation with Anne Drozd, senior museum coordinator and cartoonist, on her career and creative process, according to the museum’s website.
“It’s going to be lovely to be back on campus,” Telgemeier said. “I get to be on stage with [Drozd] again and we’re looking forward to seeing everybody there again. I joke that I’ve been to Ohio more times than any other state, such that I should probably just rent an apartment there.”
Raina Telgemeier will stop at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Saturday as part of her “Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier” book tour. Credit: Courtesy of Meg Elison
Telgemeier’s graphic novels — most notably her memoirs, “Smile,” “Sisters” and “Guts” — are highly regarded for their transparent depictions of the struggles early teens face, ranging from middle school drama to more personal issues, such as emetophobia and anxiety.
Telgemeier said when writing, she had to think back to who she was at that age and the questions she had.
“I didn’t have someone there to be the omnipotent narrator saying ‘It’s going to be OK,’ and that’s a real part of being 12,” Telgemeier said. “I can write that story now and sort of show you the full experience and how it ends. Hopefully that gives the reader a little bit of calmness.”
Telgemeier said it was important for her to tell these stories, no matter how humiliating they may feel.
“It’s just embarrassing, and I did and said a lot of things that I’m not proud of, but they’re so real that I think it’s valuable to share,” Telgemeier said. “The less embarrassed that I could be about sharing, the more powerful it is for a reader, because it’s just stripping away the shame of it all. It’s stripping away the veneer of, ‘Oh, we’re just all so perfect’ … I think there’s so much value in reality and in being yourself.”
Telgemeier said she first visited the cartoon museum in 2014 for the Exploring Calvin and Hobbes and Richard Thompson exhibit.
“I cried tears of joy, but also just overwhelm, at being able to see some of my
favorite comic strips from childhood — lines I had memorized as a child, and then to be able to see the pencil underneath the ink lines,”
Telgemeier said. “Something about that just brought me to an emotional state that I didn’t even know was inside of my brain.”
Upon deeper reflection, Telgemeier said she feels honored to have her work displayed on the same walls as her idols.
“I don’t think I’m anywhere near the level of Calvin and Hobbes, but somebody else thought that I deserved to be here,” Telgemeier said. “Nearly 10 years later, to have my own exhibit at the museum kind of felt full circle.”
Regarding the themes of Saturday’s conversation and her latest novel, Telgemeier said she has always been devoted to depicting emotion and the human experience through her illustrations.
“Faces are the thing I’ve always been drawn to in artwork,” Telgemeier said. “We see emotions in things that don’t have them, and we read emotions on other people’s faces while we’re talking to them. I love that about comics.”
Telgemeier said her emotions are a driving force in her life, as well as in the lives of her readers.
“I’ve tried to communicate a lot in my work without words, through character’s faces and through their emotions,” Telgemeier said. “In a lot of ways, emotion is the primary focus of my work … Maybe it’s a quiet thing, but to me, it’s very noisy.”
Telgemeier said despite the state of the world, people should continue to pursue the things they’re most passionate about.
“Just keep doing the things you love and centering the people in your life that bring meaning to it, and hopefully finding something to do with your days that brings meaning,” Telgemeier said. “It’s really tough right now … things look really different than they did 25 years ago when I was getting out of school, but I don’t know, human connection is more important than ever and there’s so much good that we can all do in the world.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased online for $10, which grants attendees access to the event and Q&A, or $30, which includes event admission, a presigned copy of “Facing Feelings: Inside the World of Raina Telgemeier” and a meet-and-greet with Telgemeier. For more information, visit the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum website.
They’re here, they’re queer: Local businesses give the Short North an LGBTQ+ community space for all ages
Tristen Gulasa Lantern Reporter
Forthose looking for a book to read with a latte to sip on, Little Gay Bookstore and Queer Beans might be just the place.
Business and romantic partners Lauren Branch and Reese Steiner, an Ohio State alumna, celebrated the grand opening of combined businesses Little Gay Bookstore and Queer Beans Coffee and Tea in the Short North Sept. 2, in partnership with LGBTQ+ organization Stonewall Columbus.
The couple said they developed the idea in January 2023 with the goal of providing a safe space for all ages of the LGBTQ+ community. Branch said they are excited to see it come to life.
“Our dream of what we wanted the space to be has finally come true — to finally see people come in here and have that safe space to hang out and just have a coffee,” Branch said.
Patrons can browse from a selection of LGBTQ+ books — in-store and online — and a rotating display with work from local artists. Merchandise such as bookmarks, stickers, magnets, pins and cards are also available for purchase.
The café menu consists of coffees brewed with beans from local non-profit Roosevelt Coffeehouse, along with teas and pastries from local bakeries Bake Me Happy and That Bakery.
Steiner said that the café offers a drink of the month, the names of which are often witty references to classic or queer literature. She said one of their previous featured drinks was the Dorian Gray — named after the main character in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” which is a latte with vanilla and lavender.
Branch said the drinks are intended to get people to try new things.
“It’s also to get [the] hype up with different drinks and make people go outside their comfort zone,” Branch said.
“I always get the same thing from the coffee shop because I don’t like change, but this is at least a way — a month-long way — for people to just be like, ‘OK, today is the day, I’m just gonna try it and try something new.’”
Steiner said the café also offers a buy one drink, get one half off special for students on Mondays.
Little Gay Bookstore and Queer Beans were originally set to open mid 2023. After an issue with the previous lease, the two said they put the coffee shop on a halt and turned the bookstore mobile. In late 2023, Branch and Steiner said they stuffed their supplies in Steiner’s Subaru Crosstrek and spent their weekends at events like the Good Market and Columbus Pride.
Branch said the process of continuously packing and unpacking the shop was not simple.
“It’s definitely an art and a science,” Branch said. “It took a lot of trial and error — like ordering different mobile stuff that we could easily take apart to fit in the car, but also put back together.”
According to Branch and Steiner, it was January 2024 when Kenny Sipes, owner of Roosevelt Coffeehouse, urged the couple to check out a café space he worked on with Stonewall. With the COVID-19 pandemic placing the space’s previous project on hiatus, the couple said Stonewall’s café space was left vacant.
Branch said they took the leap of sending an email to Densil Porteous, executive director and CEO of Stonewall. After a successful meeting, the couple said they began to collaborate with the organization to put the café and bookstore in the works.
Branch said the organization has provided great support to the businesses.
“They’ve been making our lives so much easier,” Branch said. “It’s fun because we get to include them in our monthly lattes, get their opinions on stuff and bounce ideas off.”
Steiner said she was able to complete her studies at Ohio State while preparing to open the shop, obtaining a degree in English — with a creative writing focus and a women’s, gender and sexuality studies minor — in Spring 2024.
“It gave me enough time to graduate and for us to get our footing under us,” Steiner said.
To build community outreach, Branch said they continuously worked events and built a social media following. Now that the shop is open, the couple said it is a relief to not solely rely on vending anymore.
“It was a lot,” Steiner said. “We’re definitely excited to just stick to the bigger events.”
LITTLE GAY BOOKSTORE continues on page 6.
Business and romantic partners Lauren Branch and Reese Steiner opened up Little Gay Bookstore and Queer Beans Coffee and Tea in partnership with Stonewall Columbus in September.
Credit: Courtesy of Reese Steiner.
Local queer businesses
Through the ups and downs of finding a space and getting the business rolling, the couple agreed that they are grateful for the outcome.
“It felt like the end of the world when we lost that space, and then everything happened,” Steiner said. “I did not believe in karma — or that everything happens for a reason — that kind of spiritual stuff. And now I’m just like, ‘You know what? It does all happen for a reason.’”
Reilly Trembley, a barista and cashier, said she originally applied for the position in 2023. She said she’s happy she stuck through the opening process with Branch and Steiner.
“I’d finally found a café that felt so catered to my knowledge and skill set,” Trembley said. “I was able to bring in coffee knowledge and support … getting to be surrounded by queer literature is a huge plus. I didn’t want to give away a chance to be a part of creating a safe haven for the queer community in Columbus.”
Branch said that she and Steiner are grateful for Trembley reaching back out after the initial lease fell through.
“She’s been on our side the entire time and has honestly been our lifeline here,” Branch said. “[Without Trembley], [Steiner] would be working seven days a week, and that’s not healthy.
I’m still working my health care job outside of this, so [Trembley] has been a godsend.”
Since the grand opening, Steiner said watching people come in and out of the shop feels special to her.
“I was in the middle of a rush, but I just took a moment to kind of soak it in … it was a little bit of a moment,”
Steiner said. “It’s always been a moment whenever it gets busy, because usually it doesn’t really get crazy in here … even when it’s just moderately busy, to hear people laughing — or see people working or reading — is very heartwarming.”
Trembley said that Branch and Steiner went through numerous hurdles to get here and that it is a relief to finally be in the shop.
“The connections we’ve been able to make have been the biggest reward,” Trembley said. “Now, more than ever, it feels so important for us to be here.”
Little Gay Bookstore and Queer Beans are connected to Stonewall Columbus at 1160 N. High St. The shops are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends.
Patrons can shop online on the bookstore’s website. More information regarding events and updates can be found on the Little Gay Bookstore and Queer Beans Instagram pages.
Importance
of
food collectives
Afew hours later, she launched The Porch Pantry to provide judgement-free aid to anyone who needs it, she said.
“I feel like [food insecurity] is one of those sort of unspoken things that people feel shame related to not being able to afford food, and I just feel like it’s one of the most basic, besides shelter, one of the most basic things someone deserves as a human in the world,” Maggied said.
Through this project, she collects monetary and supply donations and creates grocery bags with bread, fruit, basic meals, butter and other essentials. Students can request resources through the Google form on its website and Maggied will coordinate a pickup time, often within 24 hours of the request. No ID or proof of address is necessary to request supplies.
The importance of accessing resources
Students should take advantage of these resources if they are struggling with food insecurity, Maggied said.
“No person should be hungry,” Maggied said. “It takes a village, and in hard times, community is just what I really believe holds people up and that connection that people can feel from community and just knowing that one person or a couple of people care about your well-being is huge.”
Abid agrees, emphasizing the importance of accessing food resources to avoid stress associated with food insecurity.
“You are our community member. You are our future,” Abid said. “We don’t want you to worry about your food, we want you to focus on your studies and what you need to do.”
When students need food resources, they can turn to their community for support, Draper said.
“There's no shame in asking for help. We all are at points in our lives where we need help with things,” Draper said. “If you need help, that's why these resources are available to you, so do what you need to do to take care of yourself, take care of your family and to take care of your loved ones. Don't be bashful about asking for help.”
The Ohio State and Columbus community has overwhelmingly responded to the call for donations and volunteers to pantries and food resource initiatives to support people struggling with food insecurity, Maggied said.
“Your neighbors care about you, the community cares about you, and we’re here for you. Don’t be afraid to reach out and really ask for what you need, because someone will make sure you have it,” Maggied said.
Little Gay Bookstore and Queer Beans Coffee and Tea, located in the Short North, offer a drink of the month named creatively after queer literature. Credit: Courtesy of Reese Steiner.
A woman sweeps up in the Mid-Ohio Food Collective. Courtesy of The Mid-Ohio Food Collective.
Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez chases third NCAA title and Buckeye wrestling greatness
Mason Jerrell Lantern Reporter
The first time Jesse Mendez wrote down his wrestling goals, he was at his kitchen table with a blank sheet of paper.
His private coach, Alex Tsirtsis, told him to list them. Mendez wrote four things: four-time state champion, four-time national champion and win as many world and Olympic titles as he could.
Tsirtsis looked at the paper and thought, “No way.”
Years later, after winning his second NCAA title, the two laughed about that moment over the phone. They realized he wasn’t crazy; he was right.
Now a senior with two national titles, Mendez enters his final season at Ohio State chasing a place among the program’s all-time greats. The Buckeye lightweight has built his legacy on discipline, loyalty and relentless effort.
Mendez grew up in Crown Point, Indiana, a smaller kid who first made his mark on the football field. When a youth coach suggested wrestling, his path forever changed.
“I went out to wrestle, and I quit every other sport after that,” Mendez said.
Soon after, he was training in the basement of the Region Wrestling Academy, coached by Tsirtsis, where he learned fundamentals, toughness and accountability.
Mendez would show up once or twice a week and wrestle with a partner while Tsirtsis pushed him through gritty workouts that valued effort over comfort.
“That’s where I saw the most growth,” Mendez said. “Hard-nosed wrestling and he passed those traits on to me.”
Even before he was a four-time Indiana state champion, Mendez
Then-sophomore wrestler Jesse Mendez waves to the crowd while being honored during the Ohio State-Georgia basketball game at the Schottenstein Center in 2024.
earned the nickname “Blood Round King” in the eighth grade, after he reached the placement match at three major tournaments, including the Super 32 Challenge.
“It wasn’t always just winning,” Mendez said. “There were years where things didn’t go my way, and I think that taught me how to reach that next peak.”
By high school, Mendez was stacking trophies and becoming the nation’s top lightweight recruit. Colleges across the Big Ten lined up, but Ohio State saw more than results.
“He was the No. 1 kid in the country, very aggressive, extremely coachable, super fit and very technical,” head coach Tom Ryan said. “He blindly believes in his coaches. Tell him what to do and he’s going to do it.”
For Mendez, that belief was mutual.
“For me to really work hard for somebody, I have to like them,” Mendez said. “There’s not that authoritarian feeling between the athlete and the coach. My coaches, I consider them friends.”
That trust led to one of the defining choices of his career. Rather than redshirting his freshman year, Mendez stepped in immediately to help Ohio State chase a podium finish.
“It was big, but it was easy,” Ryan said. “He said, ‘Put me in.’”
As Mendez has earned All-American honors in the past three seasons, Ryan said what impressed him most was unwavering hope.
“What I’m most proud of is his faith,” Ryan said. “He’s quieted the world and made a decision to follow God. Winning national titles is nice, but this will end at some point. The bigger answer is what happens when it’s over.”
Ohio State then-junior wrestler and defending individual national champion Jesse Mendez lines up against Chattanooga’s Isaiah Powe at the Covelli Center. Mendez won 23-7 by technical fall, and Ohio State won 33-6.
REID MURRAY | LANTERN FILE PHOTO
CALEB BLAKE | LANTERN FILE PHOTO
SPORTS
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Campus bar vandalism.
On page 4 On page 7
“Smile” and “Guts” author Raina Telgemeier.
Ohio State wrestler Jesse Mendez.
‘Whole team effort:’ Ohio State eyes redemption after falling out of AP Top 25
Ryan Mathews Lantern Reporter
The banners still hang high above the Schottenstein Center, reminders of Big Ten titles, NCAA tournament runs and seasons that once placed Ohio State among the nation’s elite.
As a new season begins, the Buckeyes find themselves somewhere they haven’t been since 2021-22: outside the Associated Press Top 25.
For a program long defined by national recognition, being unranked feels less like a setback and more of a challenge. With key departures including Cotie McMahon and Taylor Thierry, relying on a roster loaded with underclass talent, Ohio State enters the year eager to prove it can rebuild its identity and reclaim its place among the sport’s elite programs.
“There needs to be chemistry and good cohesion on the floor,” Brianna MacKay, The Columbus Dispatch’s Ohio State women’s basketball beat reporter, said. “It needs to be a team effort, people want to see how Ohio State plays as a whole.”
MacKay said losing key players like McMahon and Thierry adds to the uncertainty around the Buckeyes’ firepower, which contributed to their fall in the AP Top 25 poll, a panel of more than 60 sportswriters and broadcasters.
The voters’ unfamiliarity with Ohio State’s new transfers, like former Boston College guard Ty’anna Todd, adds to the dilemma, MacKay said.
“There are certain different levels of respect for Ohio State right now and knowledge, too,” MacKay said. “People want to know what [Cambridge] Jaloni is going to do without Cotie and what new transfers Kylie [Kitts] and Ty’anna [Todd] are going to do on this new team.”
The Buckeyes entered last season ranked No. 14. With the veteran leadership of six upperclassmen players, they finished 26-7 and a conference record of 135, tying Maryland for third place.
Ohio State defeated No. 13 Montana State in the NCAA tournament’s first round but lost by double-digits at home against Tennessee, marking back-toback years of early second-round exits.
Following the loss, McMahon transferred to Ole Miss for her last year of eligibility while Thierry was drafted into the WNBA by the Atlanta Dream.
“I think there’s always going to be a bit of concern when you lose Cotie McMahon,” MacKay said. “I think naturally people might think Ohio State takes a step down, combined with the fact they had another early exit on their home court during March Madness.”
Dan Hope, deputy editor for Eleven Warriors, said Cambridge, Gray and Todd complement each other well, but it’s an unknown frontcourt.
“They’re still going to be relying on players who haven’t played much college basketball,” he said.
MacKay said scoring and rebounding are two of the major areas the youthful team, which includes eight underclass players, must improve on.
Last year, the Buckeyes didn’t play many non-conference opponents until the end of January. This season, they’ll face eight ranked opponents, including a Nov. 16 matchup against No.1 University of Connecticut.
“If they beat UConn, this could make a statement that helps build their reputation early in the year,” Hope said.
Ohio State will also face UCLA, TCU, Maryland, Iowa, USC, Michigan and Michigan State University.
Hope said the challenging schedule also provides an opportunity for leadership development from Cambridge, who’s coming off a freshman season after being named the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
“There are a lot of new pieces this year, but there seems to be a confidence about the young players that they brought in that, you know, they can have a successful season,” Hope said.
Then-freshman Jaloni Cambridge (22) gets helped up by teammates after the Buckeyes game against Bowling Green.
LIAM AHERN | SPORTS PHOTO EDITOR