Philadelphia – Oklahoma’s Wyatt Hendrickson surprised Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson on his final heavyweight night at the NCAA Men’s Wrestling Championship, attended by President Donald Trump.
Hendrickson, a transfer from the Air Force, followed until he scored on a takedown in the final minute of the evening’s final game.
Hendrickson paid tribute to Trump after his victory. The American flag was hung over his shoulder, and he walked and waved Trump’s hand, embracing him as part of his celebration. Trump took part in the event, just as the tournament did as a presidential candidate in 2023 when it was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“It’s bigger than the world, the Olympics, whatever,” the emotional Hendrickson said of the post-winning moment.
He became the first Oklahoma wrestler to win an NCAA title in heavyweight since Steve Mocco did it in 2005.
Minnesota’s Steveson was on a 70-game winning streak in pursuit of his third national title. The 2021 and 2022 National Champions retired at the end of the 2022 event. He attempted professional wrestling with WWE, performing primarily for the company’s development brand, NXT. After his release, he tried it for the Buffalo Bills last year, despite having never played organized football. He didn’t make a roster. He then returned to Minnesota this season.
Steveson entered the third season with a 3-2 lead before giving up on a takedown with about 20 seconds left. Hendrickson scored, and over time the crowd erupted.
The two have met before, and Steveson won the second match by Technical Fall at the 2021 NCAA Tournament.
Pennsylvania claimed a third four-peat, fled the field and claimed 12th men’s division I men’s wrestling national title coach Cael Sanderson. Only Dungeble, Iowa (15).
Carter Stark won the unprecedented fifth national title, beating Northern Iowa’s Parker Kekkeisen 4-3 in the 184-pound final. Keckeisen was the defending champion of his class.
Starocci, whose previous four titles have reached 174, has put everything in sight.
“That means a lot to me, but for me, I don’t want to downplay the moment, but it’s always cool, but one thing that coaches really permeate us is this all in preparation for the next thing.”
Pennsylvania scored 177 points to hit a record since last year in its second program (Minnesota, 2001) with 10 nationals per season. The Nittany Lions won another championship when Mitchell Mesenbrink won the 165 Finals 8-2 at Iowa’s Michael Kaliendo. Mesenbrink is unbeaten this season after losing in the national final a year ago.
Nebraska finished second with 117 points, with Ridge Labett winning at 149 and 157 with Antrell Taylor. Oklahoma State finished third with 102.5 points, while Iowa was fourth with 81.
North Carolina freshman Vincent Robinson defeated Oklahoma’s Troy Spratley 2-1 with 125, while Illinois’ Lucas Bird defeated Iowa’s Drake Ayala 3-2 with 133.
In 141, Ohio’s Jesse Mendes gathered from a 5-0 deficit, beating Nebraska’s Brock Hardy 12-9, claiming his second consecutive national title. Hardy was the first species.
In 149, Lovett defeated defending champion Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson 1-0. Lovett became the first Cornhuskers National Champion since the 2011 Jordan Burroughs.
Nebraska’s Taylor was hanging to defeat Purdue’s Joey Blaze 4-2.
Oklahoma’s Dean Hamity defeated Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole 4-1 overtime to win 174. O’Toole, a 165-year-old national champion in 2022 and 2023, challenged a tergendown during restrictions and allowed him to reach overtime. In the sudden victory, another takedown was challenged, but this time it was supported, with Hamity celebrating with freshman coach David Taylor.
Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan beat Pennsylvania’s Josh Barr 5-2 in the 197th final. He was a national in Wyoming, Oklahoma and now Iowa.
This report uses information from the Associated Press.
