Wyatt Hendrickson
{{short description|American wrestler (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Wyatt Hendrickson
| image = Wyatt Hendrickson vs CBU (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hendrickson in 2024
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|01|13}}
| birth_place = Newton, Kansas, U.S.
| education = United States Air Force Academy,
Oklahoma State University
| height =
| weight =
| country = {{USA}}
| sport = Wrestling
| event = Folkstyle wrestling
| collegeteam = Oklahoma State Cowboys
Air Force Falcons
| club = Cowboy RTC
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport | Men's freestyle wrestling }}
{{Medal|Country | the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition| Pan American Championships }}
{{Medal|Gold| 2025 Monterrey | 125 kg }}
{{Medal|Competition| U23 World Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold|2023 Tirana|125 kg}}
{{MedalSport | Collegiate wrestling}}{{MedalCountry | the}} Oklahoma State Cowboys {{MedalCompetition|NCAA Division I Championships}}
{{Medal|Gold| 2025 Philadelphia | 285 lb }}
{{MedalCompetition|Big 12 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2025 Tulsa|285 lb}}
{{MedalCountry | the}} Air Force Falcons {{MedalCompetition|NCAA Division I Championships}}
{{Medal|Bronze| 2023 Tulsa | 285 lb }}
{{Medal|Bronze| 2024 Kansas City | 285 lb }}
{{MedalCompetition|Big 12 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2022 Tulsa|285 lb}}
{{MedalGold|2023 Tulsa|285 lb}}
{{MedalSilver|2024 Tulsa|285 lb}}
{{MedalBronze|2021 Tulsa|285 lb}}
}}
Wyatt Hendrickson (born January 13, 2001) is an American wrestler. He competed in collegiate wrestling for the Air Force Falcons and Oklahoma State Cowboys. A heavyweight, he won the 2025 NCAA national championship, defeating Gable Steveson in a major upset.
Biography
Hendrickson is from Newton, Kansas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kwch.com/2025/03/23/newton-native-wyatt-hendrickson-secures-national-championship/|publisher=KWCH-DT|title=Newton native Wyatt Hendrickson secures NCAA championship|date=March 23, 2025|agency=Associated Press}}Asmann, Savannah. (October 11, 2023). [https://www.themat.com/news/2023/october/11/2023-u23-u-s-men-s-freestyle-world-team-biographies 2023 U23 U.S. Men’s Freestyle World Team Biographies]. USA Wrestling. Retrieved March 28, 2025. He competed in wrestling while attending Newton High School, where he was a four-time All-American in the freestyle and Greco-Roman categories and won the state championship twice.{{Cite web|url=https://okstate.com/sports/wrestling/roster/wyatt-hendrickson/12920|publisher=Oklahoma State Cowboys|title=Wyatt Hendrickson|access-date=March 24, 2025|archive-date=March 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250324031621/https://okstate.com/sports/wrestling/roster/wyatt-hendrickson/12920|url-status=live}} He was ranked the number three recruit in his weight class nationally and after graduating, enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle/168697402/|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 19, 2019|page=B1|title=Newton High wrestling star's next move is Air Force service|author=Barber, Hayden|archive-date=April 1, 2025|access-date=March 24, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401220507/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle/168697402/|url-status=live}} {{Open access}} He had received offers to join numerous collegiate wrestling teams and initially threw a letter from Air Force away, before being convinced by his father to enroll there.{{Cite news|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/cowboys/2025/03/19/oklahoma-state-wrestling-wyatt-hendrickson-unique-journey-air-force-osu-cowboys-ncaa-championships/82527294007/|newspaper=The Oklahoman|title=Inside Wyatt Hendrickson's unique journey from Air Force to Oklahoma State wrestling|date=March 19, 2025|author=Wright, Scott}}
As a freshman at Air Force in 2020–21, Hendrickson compiled a record of 16–5 and qualified for the NCAA Championships. He then was the national pins leader as a sophomore and won the Big 12 Conference championship, compiling a record of 26–2 while returning to the NCAA Championships. He won another Big 12 title in the 2022–23 season and finished third at the NCAA Championships, having compiled a record of 31–2 during the season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world/168698785/|newspaper=Tulsa World|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 18, 2023|page=B3|title=Hendrickson becomes first Air Force semifinalist in 20 years}} {{Open access}} He was an All-American, the first from Air Force in 20 years. As a senior in 2023–24, he repeated as the third-place finisher at the NCAA Championships.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world/168699039/|newspaper=Tulsa World|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 3, 2025|page=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world/168699085/ B3]|title=Hendrickson in pursuit of championship|author=Waldrep, Tyler}} {{Open access}} In his career with the Air Force Falcons, Hendrickson went 103–11 while being a two-time All-American.{{Cite news|url=https://gazette.com/sports/air-force-sports/air-force-academy-wrestler-wyatt-hendrickson-transfers-to-oklahoma-state/article_043ea160-1641-11ef-8e1d-afa8e0709c38.html|newspaper=Colorado Springs Gazette|title=Air Force Academy wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson transfers to Oklahoma State|date=May 19, 2024|author=Hill, Marcus}}
With an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hendrickson was selected for the World Class Athlete Program at Air Force, allowing him to delay his military service to continue his career. He transferred to the Oklahoma State Cowboys for his final season of collegiate wrestling since military academies do not allow graduate students to compete. He compiled an undefeated record of 27–0 during the 2024–25 season, qualifying for the NCAA Championships.{{Cite news|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/cowboys/2025/03/22/oklahoma-state-wrestling-wyatt-hendrickson-upsets-gable-steveson-ncaa-finals-heavyweight-title/82619777007/|newspaper=The Oklahoman|date=March 22, 2025|title=How Wyatt Hendrickson upset Gable Steveson for heavyweight title at NCAA wrestling finals|author=Wright, Scott}} There, he advanced to the finals and defeated Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist who had won 70-consecutive matches, with a takedown in the final seconds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/23/sport/wyatt-hendrickson-gable-steveson-trump-ncaa-wrestling-spt-intl/index.html|publisher=CNN|title=Wyatt Hendrickson stuns Olympic champion Gable Steveson to win wrestling national title, celebrates with President Trump |date=March 23, 2025|author=Morse, Ben}} The commentators for the match described Hendrickson's win as the "biggest upset in NCAA history". He celebrated his win with President Donald Trump, who was in attendance.
Hendrickson holds the rank of second lieutenant in the United States Air Force.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/oklahoma-states-wyatt-hendrickson-salutes-trump-after-shocking-ncaa-win-opens-up-about-air-force-career|publisher=Fox News|title=Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson salutes Trump after shocking NCAA win, opens up about Air Force career|author=Gaydos, Ryan|date=March 23, 2025}}
Freestyle record
{{s-start}}
! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle Matches
|-
! Res.
! Record
! Opponent
! Score
! Date
! Event
! Location
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2025 US World Team Trials {{gold1}} at 125 kg}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|20-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Trent Hilger
|style="font-size:88%"|20-14
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|June 14, 2025
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2025 Final X
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
{{flagicon|USA}} Newark, New Jersey
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|19-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Trent Hilger
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2025 Pan American Championships {{gold1}} at 125 kg }}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|18-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|CAN}} Richard DesChatelets
|style="font-size:88%"|Fall
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|May 11, 2025
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2025 Pan American Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3|
{{flagicon|MEX}} Monterrey, Mexico
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|17-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|VEN}} Jose Daniel Diaz
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 11-0
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|16-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Maxwell Lacey
|style="font-size:88%"|Fall
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2025 US Open {{gold1}} at 125 kg}}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|15-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Demetrius Thomas
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 14-3
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|April 25–26, 2025
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2025 US Open National Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
{{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|14-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Trent Hillger
|style="font-size:88%"|10-4
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|13-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Lucas Stoddard
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 11-0
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|12-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Devon Dawson
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small|2024 US Olympic Trials DNP 125 kg}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|11-8
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Kerkvliet
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 0-11
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|April 19–20, 2024
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2024 US Olympic Trials
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3|
{{flagicon|USA}} State College, Pennsylvania
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|11-7
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Gary Traub
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 16-5
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|10-7
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Dom Bradley
|style="font-size:88%"|8-12
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small| 2023 U23 World Championships {{gold1}} at 125 kg }}
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|10-6
|align=left|{{flagicon|TUR}} Adil Misirci
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 13-3
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|October 23–29, 2023
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2023 U23 World Championships
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
{{flagicon|ALB}} Tirana, Albania
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|9-6
|align=left|{{flagicon|GRE}} Azamat Khosonov
|style="font-size:88%"|4-2
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|8-6
|align=left|{{flagicon|MDA}} Nicolae Stratulat
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 14-1
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|7-6
|align=left|{{flagicon|ANA}} Abdulla Kurbanov
|style="font-size:88%"|Fall
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small|2023 Senior World Team Trials 4th at 125 kg}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|6-6
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Dom Bradley
|style="font-size:88%"|4-5
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|May 20, 2023
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2023 US Senior World Team Trials
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
{{flagicon|USA}} Colorado Springs, Colorado
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|6-5
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Ty Walz
|style="font-size:88%"|6-0
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|5-5
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Mason Parris
|style="font-size:88%"|11-12
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|5-4
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Demertius Thomas
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small|2023 US Open 4th at 125 kg}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|4-4
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Mason Parris
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 7-20
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|April 30, 2023
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2023 US Open
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5|
{{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|4-3
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Dom Bradley
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 12-1
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Ty Walz
|style="font-size:88%"|FF
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|3-3
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Owen Trephan
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 12-0
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|2-3
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Gable Steveson
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 12-0
|-
! style=background:white colspan=7 |{{small|2022 US Open DNP at 125 kg}}
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|2-2
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Sam Schuyler
|style="font-size:88%"|6-12
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|April 27, 2022
|style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2022 US Open
|style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
{{flagicon|USA}} Las Vegas, Nevada
|-
|{{no2}}Loss
|2-1
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Hayden Zilmer
|style="font-size:88%"|5-8
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|2-0
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Tate Orndoff
|style="font-size:88%"|16-11
|-
|{{yes2}}Win
|1-0
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} Ryan Vasbinder
|style="font-size:88%"|TF 10-0
{{end}}
References
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hendrickson, Wyatt}}
Category:Air Force Falcons wrestling
Category:Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestlers
Category:People from Newton, Kansas
Category:Sportspeople from Kansas