Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson Salutes Trump After NCAA Wrestling Upset, Air Force Career Insights Shared

Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson stunned the NCAA wrestling world Saturday night when he defeated Minnesota's Gable Steveson in the 285-pound division. The monumental upset at the NCAA Wrestling Championships was followed by an equally memorable moment: Hendrickson saluted former President Donald Trump, who was in attendance, as he was handed the American flag. Trump responded with a fist wave, then the two shook hands and shared a celebratory hug, making for a picture-perfect scene.

Hendrickson, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, didn’t hold back his emotions after the victory, calling it "bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything." The win marked one of NCAA wrestling's most unexpected outcomes, as Steveson was chasing his third national title after an impressive 70-match winning streak. The Olympic gold medalist had returned to the mat for the 2024 season following a year off to explore NFL and WWE opportunities.

In the final moments of the match, Steveson gave up a takedown with just 20 seconds left, and Hendrickson capitalized further before time expired. The crowd's reaction? Absolute pandemonium. Even seasoned broadcasters were left in shock.

Speaking candidly about his mindset going into the match, Hendrickson credited his faith and preparation. "I want to thank my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, for blessing me," he said. "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."

Hendrickson revealed that he drew inspiration from a sermon about David and Goliath earlier in the week, emphasizing how the story shaped his mental game against Steveson, who was heavily favored to win. "Even though [David] went after Goliath and everyone was, like, 'This can't be done,' he had a mind of a champion," he reflected.

Hendrickson’s strategy was clear: patience and resilience. "He took me down once. But I took him down when it mattered," he said, describing the gritty back-and-forth nature of the match.

Outside the wrestling mat, Hendrickson has committed to a 20-year career in the Air Force, currently serving as an acquisitions officer. He credits the Air Force Academy for providing him with opportunities beyond wrestling, including a world-class education and a chance to be part of something greater than himself.

"From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to make the military my career," Hendrickson explained. "I could accomplish all those [goals] at the Air Force Academy. Wrestle in the Big 12. Get a world-class education. Be part of something bigger than myself." He plans to wrestle for three more years before fully transitioning into his military career.

It’s hard not to admire Hendrickson’s ability to juggle athletic excellence, military service, and a strong sense of purpose. The kid’s got a vision, and let’s just say, he’s executing it like a pro.