Oklahoma State Wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson Reflects on Trump's Appearance at NCAA Championships

Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson shared his thoughts on what it meant for his sport that former President Donald Trump attended the NCAA wrestling national championships. Hendrickson, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, pulled off a historic upset in the 285-pound division, defeating Minnesota’s Gable Steveson. Trump wasn’t the only high-profile spectator—billionaire Elon Musk was also in attendance.

Appearing on ESPN’s "The Pat McAfee Show," Hendrickson explained that while having Trump in the crowd could have been intimidating, he felt no extra pressure. "I think I’ve got enough grasp on the sport that I’m able to kind of take myself out of the situation and wrestle for myself, my family, and my team," he said. "Five years ago, I would have been freaking out, thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, my boss is watching me.’ But now I’m blessed to wrestle freely." After his match, Hendrickson walked over to show his respect to Trump, calling him "my boss."

Hendrickson also expressed gratitude for Trump’s support of wrestling, noting that the former president’s presence highlights the sport’s growing popularity. "The Commander-in-Chief, President Trump, being there is just a testament to how awesome wrestling is," he said. "It’s growing, and people who might not have paid attention before are now asking, ‘What’s going on here?’"

As for Musk, Hendrickson admitted he didn’t know the tech mogul was attending until he went over to greet Trump. "That caught me off guard," he laughed. "I was like, ‘Oh, what’s up Elon? Good to see you here, too.’ Pretty cool moment, honestly."

Beyond wrestling, Hendrickson has his sights set on serving his country. He elaborated earlier in the week on his decision to pursue a military career, stating, "When I was looking at wrestling in college, I wanted to look at more than just that—what my career is going to look like. I’ve always been super-patriotic and have a heart to serve." He added that his time at the Air Force Academy opened up opportunities for him, including attending grad school and wrestling at Oklahoma State University.

"The opportunities in the Air Force are limitless," Hendrickson said. "I’ll wrestle for a few years, then transition into my job, and serve this great country to the best of my ability."