Oklahoma State Cowboys Wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson greeted President Donald Trump on Saturday night after his historic riot of Minnesota’s Gable Steveson in the 285-pound division at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Hendrickson, another lieutenant in the US Air Force, pointed to the president and gave him a greeting when he received the American flag. Trump waved with the fist to support. Then he shook Trump’s hand and embraced him as part of his party.
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Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson responds after defeating Minnesota’s Gable Steveson at the NCAA Wrestling Championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
“It’s bigger than worlds, the Olympics, anything,” Hendrickson said.
The victory was considered one of the greatest disturbances in NCAA Wrestling History. Steveson was looking for his third national title in the middle of a 70-match winning row. He won the national titles in 2021 and 2022 before taking a year off in 2023 to pursue the NFL and a WWE career. He came back to the 2024 season.
Steveson gave up a dismantling of 20 seconds back in the match. Then Hendrickson scored once again before time expired. The audience and the TV stations were stunned.
Hendrickson touched his mentality that went into the fight and how his faith played a role in his victory.
“I think it will be a few more days before the emotions settle down. But first, I just want to thank my family. I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to bless me,” he said via ASAP Sports. “In the last shot I was on that leg and there was a little extra push behind me to get that dismantling. I don’t think it was a coincidence.
“At the beginning of the week, Brandon Mason, our doctor, we went to Life Church and he was like ‘Hello guys great sermon.’ I listen to the sermon.
Hendrickson suggested he focused on that story when Steveson was the favorite to win.
President Donald Trump greets Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson responds after defeating Minnesota’s Gable Steveson at the NCAA Wrestling Championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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“I had a bit of it with me all week. Although he went for Goliath and everyone was, like ‘this can not be done’, he had a mind of a master, he had a vision of victory. Until this tournament, I knew my head had to be in the right place if I would end on top.
“When I went out there I was brave. And my strength is – it worked. I fought that battle. I was patient. I went in with the right mindset. And from bats I was, like ‘this won’t be an easy fight.’ From the very beginning it was encrypted on it out.
“He took me down once. But I took him down when it matters.”
Hendrickson said he is planning to serve in the Air Force for the next 20 years and is currently an acquisition manager. He said he is world -class -a -athlete program, which allowed him to fight this year.
“From the start, I knew I wanted to make the military my career, which was obviously the reason I chose the Air Force Academy, I looked at more than wrestling, I looked at my career goals, life goals,” he added. “I could achieve all those at the Air Force Academy. Fighting Big 12. Get a world -class education, being part of something bigger than myself.
Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson, on the right, assumes Minnesota’s Gable Steveson, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
“I want to fight for three more and then I do mine – I plan to stay in 20. Yes, I plan to make a career out of it. As soon as I finish fighting, I do my demand, but it will be about nine years. I plan if it is not broken, it does not have to be resolved.”
