Latest news with #Steveson
Fox Sports
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson wins the Hodge Trophy as top men's college wrestler
Associated Press NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson, who beat Minnesota's Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title, has been voted the Hodge Trophy winner as the nation's top men's college wrestler. WIN Magazine, which compiles the results, made the announcement on Monday. Hendrickson's dramatic late takedown of Steveson gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson had been taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time Hodge Trophy winner and a two-time national champion. 'There has been a lot of hard work that has been compiled over the last five years,' Hendrickson, a transfer from Air Force, said in a statement. 'A lot of people have poured a lot of effort into me. Domination is something I've embraced as a wrestler, and that is what this award is all about. It is an absolute blessing.' Hendrickson had defeated the defending 285 champion, Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet, in the semifinals. His run through the NCAA Tournament helped Oklahoma State and first-year coach David Taylor finish third in the team standings. Taylor, a two-time Hodge Trophy winner himself, became the first former winner to coach a wrestler to the award. The voters are a retired coach from each region, former winners, national media members and a fan poll that is worth five first-place votes. Hendrickson narrowly won one of the most competitive Hodge votes in history. He received 30 of the 59 first-place votes with Penn State's Carter Starocci earning 26 and fellow Nittany Lion Mitchell Mesenbrink acquiring three. Starocci is the only five-time national champion in Division I history. Mesenbrink was the national champion at 165. Hendrickson also won the official Hodge Fan Vote, with 16,001 of the 32,961 verified fan votes that were cast online March 25-28. Starocci finished second in the fan vote with 13,108, while Mesenbrink finished third with 3,852. Hendrickson, a second lieutenant in the Air Force, says he has his sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. ___ AP sports:
Associated Press
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson wins the Hodge Trophy as top men's college wrestler
NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson, who beat Minnesota's Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title, has been voted the Hodge Trophy winner as the nation's top men's college wrestler. WIN Magazine, which compiles the results, made the announcement on Monday. Hendrickson's dramatic late takedown of Steveson gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson had been taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time Hodge Trophy winner and a two-time national champion. 'There has been a lot of hard work that has been compiled over the last five years,' Hendrickson, a transfer from Air Force, said in a statement. 'A lot of people have poured a lot of effort into me. Domination is something I've embraced as a wrestler, and that is what this award is all about. It is an absolute blessing.' Hendrickson had defeated the defending 285 champion, Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet, in the semifinals. His run through the NCAA Tournament helped Oklahoma State and first-year coach David Taylor finish third in the team standings. Taylor, a two-time Hodge Trophy winner himself, became the first former winner to coach a wrestler to the award. The voters are a retired coach from each region, former winners, national media members and a fan poll that is worth five first-place votes. Hendrickson narrowly won one of the most competitive Hodge votes in history. He received 30 of the 59 first-place votes with Penn State's Carter Starocci earning 26 and fellow Nittany Lion Mitchell Mesenbrink acquiring three. Starocci is the only five-time national champion in Division I history. Mesenbrink was the national champion at 165. Hendrickson also won the official Hodge Fan Vote, with 16,001 of the 32,961 verified fan votes that were cast online March 25-28. Starocci finished second in the fan vote with 13,108, while Mesenbrink finished third with 3,852. Hendrickson, a second lieutenant in the Air Force, says he has his sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
CNN
28-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Wyatt Hendrickson stuns Olympic champion Gable Steveson to win wrestling national title, celebrates with President Trump
Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson produced what commentators dubbed the 'biggest upset in NCAA history' as he stunned Olympic champion Gable Steveson to win the heavyweight wrestling national title on Saturday. Hendrickson trailed 4-2 in the match to Steveson but scored a shocking takedown in the final seconds – the only takedown Steveson allowed all season – to win the final 5-4 at the 2025 NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia. When his victory was confirmed, Hendrickson fell to his back in disbelief as he was mobbed by his coaching staff while Steveson rested on his knees in amazement. After getting to his feet, Hendrickson saluted President Donald Trump who was in attendance, later shaking his hand and hugging him in celebration, while draped in an American flag. 'It's bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything,' an emotional Hendrickson said afterwards, per AP. Steveson, a gold medalist in the 125kg weight class at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, entered the final on a 70-match unbeaten streak and almost completed his fourth straight college season without losing, but for his defeat on Saturday. Hendrickson also entered Saturday's final on an unbeaten streak but fell behind to the two-time national champion with the result looking certain. But with 20 seconds remaining, Hendrickson managed to complete an unlikely takedown and take the lead before holding on for the remaining time as the crowd went wild. 'I was looking at the clock and I'm squeezing him,' Hendrickson said, according to Oklahoma State, when asked about what he was thinking when holding on in the final seconds. 'I made up my mind. If he did stand up, I didn't want to lock my hands. I don't want to get a locked hands call, but I was squeezing. 'If he stands up, I'm just going to lock and pick him up and just hold him in the air for the last couple seconds, because I'm, like, 'I have made it this far,' and I knew I was going to win this match. I don't care if I had to rip my arms off squeezing him. I was, like, 'I'm holding this man down and winning this match.'' Hendrickson's dramatic victory completed a successful day for Oklahoma State after Dean Hamiti Jr. produced his own upset victory, beating two-time national champion Keegan O'Toole to win the 174-pound title. Elsewhere, Penn State's Carter Starocci won a fifth national title, defeating Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen 4-3 in the 184-pound final.
Fox News
24-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson fires off faithful message after shocking NCAA title win in front of Trump
Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson pulled off a stunning upset against Minnesota's Gable Steveson on Saturday in front of President Donald Trump at the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Hendrickson won the national title in the 285-pound division. Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist who took a year off from collegiate wrestling to pursue NFL and WWE careers. He returned to school this season to finish up his eligibility and made it as far as he could go. A day after the win, Hendrickson fired off a faithful message on X. "That just happened. Nothing is impossible when you have God by your side!" he wrote. Hendrickson, who is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, expounded more about his faith in the post-match media availability with reporters. "I think it's going to be a couple 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, for blessing me," he said, via ASAP Sports. "In that last shot, I was in on that leg and there was a little extra push behind me to get that takedown. I don't think that was by chance. "At the beginning of the week, Brandon Mason, our doctor, we went to Life Church, and he was, like, 'Hey, guys great sermon.' I was listening to the sermon. He was talking about David and Goliath. And David had a vision of victory before he stepped on the mat." He said he focused on that biblical passage ahead of the final match against Steveson, who was believed to be the favorite. "I kind of carried that with me all week. Even though he went after Goliath and everyone was, like, 'This can't be done,' he had a mind of a champion, he had a vision of victory. Leading up to this tournament, I knew that my head had to be in the right place if I wanted to end up on top. "Going out there, I was courageous. And my strength is – it worked out. I wrestled that match. I was patient. I went in with the right mindset. And off the bat I was, like, 'This isn't going to be an easy match.' Right off the beginning it was scrambles on the out. I didn't want to concede any points. That was the mindset I had to have, was to act like I wanted to be a champion and wrestle like I wanted to be a champion. "He took me down once. But I took him down when it mattered." Hendrickson saluted Trump after the win and shook his hand. He added after the match that he planned to pursue a career in the U.S. Air Force. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
CBS News
23-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Penn State's Carter Starocci wins record 5th national title at NCAA men's wrestling championships in Philadelphia
Penn State's Carter Starocci won an unprecedented fifth national title and Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson 5-4 in the heavyweight final Saturday night at the NCAA men's wrestling championships with President Donald Trump in attendance. Hendrickson, a transfer from Air Force, trailed in the last match of the evening until scoring on a takedown in the final minute — the only takedown Steveson allowed all season. Hendrickson saluted Trump after his victory. With a United States flag draped over his shoulders, he then walked over and shook Trump's hand and hugged him as part of his celebration. Trump attended the event, just as he did as a candidate in 2023 when the tournament was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "It's bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything," an emotional Hendrickson said moments after the win. Minnesota's Steveson, seeking his third national title, was on a 70-match win streak. The 2021 and 2022 national champion retired at the end of the 2022 event, but returned this year after stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and the National Football League. Steveson entered the third period with a 3-2 lead before giving up the takedown with about 20 seconds remaining . The crowd erupted when Hendrickson scored and as time expired. Starocci's Nittany Lions claimed their third four-peat, running away from the field to claim their 12th men's Division I men's wrestling national title under coach Cael Sanderson. Starocci defeated Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen 4-3 in the 184-pound final. Keckeisen was the defending champion in the class. Starocci kept it all in perspective. "It means a lot to me, but as for me — I never want to downplay the moment — but I mean, it's always cool, but one thing that Coach Cael really instills in us, this is all just preparation for the next thing." Penn State, just the second program to have 10 All-Americans in one season, scored 177 points to top its record from last year. The Nittany Lions picked up another championship when Mitchell Mesenbrink won the 165 final 8-2 over Iowa's Michael Caliendo. Mesenbrink finished unbeaten this season after losing in the national final a year ago. Nebraska finished second with 117 points and closed out its best tournament ever with Ridge Lovett winning at 149 and Antrell Taylor at 157. Oklahoma State finished third with 102.5 points and Iowa was fourth with 81. North Carolina State freshman Vincent Robinson defeated Oklahoma State's Troy Spratley 2-1 at 125, and Illinois' Lucas Byrd defeated Iowa's Drake Ayala 3-2 at 133. At 141, Ohio State's Jesse Mendez rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat Nebraska's Brock Hardy 12-9 and claim his second straight national title. Hardy was the No. 1 seed. At 149, Lovett toppled the defending champion, Virginia Tech's Caleb Henson, 1-0. Lovett became the first Cornhusker national champion since Jordan Burroughs in 2011. Nebraska's Taylor hung on to defeat Purdue's Joey Blaze 4-2. Oklahoma State's Dean Hamiti defeated Missouri's Keegan O'Toole 4-1 in overtime to win at 174. O'Toole, the national champ at 165 in 2022 and 2023, challenged a takedown during regulation that was reversed and allowed him to get to overtime. In sudden victory, another takedown was challenged, but this time, it was upheld, and Hamiti celebrated with first-year coach David Taylor. Iowa's Stephen Buchanan defeated Penn State's Josh Barr 5-2 in the 197 final. He's been an All-American at Wyoming, Oklahoma and now Iowa.
