Meet collegiate wrestling champion Wyatt Hendrickson: from serving in the US Air Force to his stunning NCAA win with Donald Trump and Elon Musk in the audience … and chasing his LA 2028 Olympic dream

Mar 25 , 2025

Wyatt Hendrickson just delivered the “biggest upset in NCAA history” after besting Gable Steveson at the NCAA Division 1 national championship. Photo: @wyatt_hendrickson/Instagram

After delivering the ‘biggest upset in NCAA history’ by beating Olympic gold medallist Gable Steveson, the USAF second lieutenant is eyeing greater glory

Oklahoma State Cowboys star Wyatt Hendrickson ended his collegiate wrestling career on a high note, beating University of Minnesota’s Gable Steveson at the NCAA championship over the weekend. The newly minted heavyweight title winner then paid tribute to US President Donald Trump – who was in the audience with Doge head Elon Musk and US representative Jim Jordan, a college wrestling champion himself – by saluting him from the mat before going up to the head of state for a handshake and a hug with the American flag on his back.

Wyatt Hendrickson salutes US President Donald Trump after winning the 2025 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Wrestling Championship Heavyweight title. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

“[Trump] said he was very proud of me,” Hendrickson, 24, later told ESPN, adding, “He came here to support his troops, I put on a show for him, I wanted that national title.” The interaction evidently left him pumped, as he boasted in a press conference afterwards. “Commander-in-chief right there baby. I was really excited to have him here,” he said, per The New York Post.

US President Donald Trump greets Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson after he defeated Minnesota’s Gable Steveson in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship. Photo: AP

So, what do we know about Hendrickson, the Pin Cancer ambassador who delivered the “biggest upset in NCAA history” after defeating Steveson, per CNN?

What is Wyatt Hendrickson’s background?

According to his Oklahoma State bio, Hendrickson is the only son of Todd and Lynnette Hendrickson, and was born in Newton, Kansas. He grew up with his parents and two sisters, Megan and Gracie. He attended Newton High School, where he was named All-American in several forms of competitive wrestling like freestyle, folkstyle and Greco-Roman. He’s currently pursuing an MBA degree at Oklahoma State.

He’s in the Air Force

Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson reacts after defeating Minnesota’s Gable Steveson in the finals at the NCAA wrestling championship on March 22, in Philadelphia. Photo: AP

Hendrickson, whose grandfather served in the US Navy, per the Air Force Academy Athletics’ website, previously wrestled for the Air Force Academy Falcons and is currently a second lieutenant at the USAF. He aspires to be a pilot.