Wyatt Hendrickson was aware that defeating Gable Steveson in the 2025 NCAA Wrestling National Championship Finals was a long shot.
Facing an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time National Champion, and the nation`s top wrestler, Hendrickson knew Steveson was heavily favored to win. However, the wrestler who transferred from Air Force to Oklahoma State found inspiration in a church sermon about David and Goliath just days before the tournament. This sermon gave him the belief that he could indeed overcome a giant like Steveson.
“It was a vision of victory,” Hendrickson explained to MMA Fighting. “I applied that mindset throughout the week leading up to the match. I realized that in some major competitions, the outcome seems predetermined. Many people felt that way about this match because you had a good wrestler in me, a two-time All-American, against an Olympic gold medalist and multiple National Champion. It wasn`t expected to be a close title fight in the finals.”
“Going into the week, I understood the importance of mental preparation. That sermon really supported me throughout the week.”
When he stepped onto the mat last Saturday night, Hendrickson felt confident he could compete with Steveson. He kept the score close throughout the match. With less than a minute remaining and down 4-2, Hendrickson saw an opportunity, seized Steveson’s leg, and executed a takedown that ultimately secured his victory.
“Thinking back to that moment, I knew the match wasn`t over,” Hendrickson recalled. “Time was running out, and it was my moment to act. I got his leg and went for the takedown. In my mind, it was time to go! Secure the wrist, keep him down! The only moment I had to really think was when he started to stand up because I had a really tight grip. I felt like a python wrapped around him. He wasn’t escaping.”
“As he started to rise, I had two options: try to hold him down or go for a big lift and return. A big lift and return might have been a more dramatic finish, but sometimes it’s better to play it safe. I knew I had a good hold and he was feeling my pressure. Those final 20 seconds felt very long.”
Hendrickson’s determination paid off as he prevented Steveson from escaping until time ran out.
“I remember as soon as I took him down, I decided he was not getting back up,” Hendrickson stated. “I told myself I was winning this match. It was decided, but I still had to execute. It was an intense 10 to 15 seconds, but I was determined. He wasn`t getting up. I was finishing it right there.”
Immediately after the match, Hendrickson celebrated, and many observers declared his win possibly the biggest upset in NCAA wrestling history, and perhaps one of the most shocking upsets in all of sports.
It`s important to note that Hendrickson wasn`t an underdog who unexpectedly reached the finals and then defeated an Olympic gold medalist. He was ranked No. 2 in the tournament. However, this didn`t diminish the fact that he was competing against an athlete with incredible accomplishments in the NCAA and their past encounters.
“I’ve wrestled Gable several times before… the only time I’ve ever been technically outmatched in my college career was by Gable Steveson,” Hendrickson admitted. “I don’t take offense to that at all. Looking at the records from any perspective, whether you’re a wrestling fan or not, you know Gable’s reputation. Comparing our achievements, there was a clear favorite.”
“I completely understand why people call it a major upset, and it truly was. They`re not trying to insult me. They are emphasizing how great Gable is as a wrestler. They`re highlighting the significance of his reputation.”
Following the surprising victory, the moments that followed were like a movie scene. Hendrickson, still a member of the Air Force, stood tall and saluted President Donald Trump in the audience before celebrating with his friends and family.
Hendrickson admits he barely remembers the celebration because he was overwhelmed by the moment.
“There are many clichés, but ‘unreal’ is the perfect word to describe it,” Hendrickson said. “It was so unreal, I almost blacked out after the match. Mentally, I stood up, and I was just in disbelief, ‘Wow, that really just happened.’ It was a surreal moment. I had already pictured what I wanted to do after the match because I had that vision of victory. I knew I would win. I was going to salute the commander in chief, hug my family, and see my coaches.”
“Thankfully, I had a general idea of what I wanted to do because my body just took over. It was pure gratitude. It felt unreal.”
Since the win, Hendrickson has gained more attention than he did throughout his entire college wrestling career. But this newfound fame hasn`t slowed him down.
Hendrickson is already back training for his next goal: a spot on the 2028 Olympic wrestling team, which could potentially pit him against Steveson again.
“For the next steps, we’re taking it year by year,” Hendrickson said. “There are still competitions to qualify for the World teams, so the immediate future is back to training. I just finished training 45 minutes ago. The training won’t stop. It`s good to celebrate a little, but there’s no time to relax. We’ve built momentum, and we’re going to keep it going. There are many areas in my wrestling I can improve, and you never reach perfection. I’m excited to continue growing as a wrestler.”
“Now there’s a new major goal. This year it was becoming a National Champion—now the overarching goal for the next few years is becoming an Olympic champion.”
Because he is a wrestler and just defeated an Olympic gold medalist who has discussed moving to MMA, Hendrickson was asked about his own interest in MMA.
Although past concussions ended his high school football career early, the new National Champion wrestler isn’t ruling out any possibilities, including a future transition to MMA.
“I quit football early, in my freshman year of high school. I was only 160 pounds then, but God gave me one body, and I want to take care of it,” Hendrickson said. “I want to live a happy life. I don’t want to put myself in a situation where my life is at risk. It’s not worth it.”
“If I were to consider putting myself in that situation, we’ll see. For the foreseeable future, wrestling is my priority. I might start cross-training, which could be exciting. Maybe do some training, connect with some MMA people, and see where it leads. Right now, I’m focused on wrestling and my military career after these four years of wrestling. I’m currently active duty in the world-class athlete program, which is a blessing. But after that, I’ll have another non-wrestling job in the Air Force.”
