Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson salutes Trump after shocking NCAA win, opens up about Air Force career

Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson saluted President Donald Trump connected Saturday nighttime pursuing his historical upset of Minnesota’s Gable Steveson successful the 285-pound part astatine the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Hendrickson, who is simply a 2nd lieutenant successful the U.S. Air Force, pointed toward the president and gave him a salute arsenic helium was handed the American flag. Trump waved his fist successful support. He past shook Trump’s manus and hugged him arsenic portion of his celebration.

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Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson reacts aft defeating Minnesota's Gable Steveson astatine the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

"It’s bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything," Hendrickson said.

The triumph was considered 1 of the biggest upsets successful NCAA wrestling history. Steveson was looking for his 3rd nationalist rubric amid a 70-match winning streak. He won the nationalist titles successful 2021 and 2022 earlier taking a twelvemonth disconnected successful 2023 to prosecute the NFL and a WWE career. He came backmost for the 2024 season.

Steveson gave up a takedown with 20 seconds near successful the match. Then, Hendrickson scored erstwhile much earlier clip expired. The assemblage and the broadcasters were stunned.

Hendrickson touched connected his mentality going into the bout and however his religion played a relation successful his victory.

"I deliberation it's going to beryllium a mates much days earlier the emotions settee down. But first, I conscionable privation to convey my family. I privation to convey my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, for blessing me," helium said, via ASAP Sports. "In that past shot, I was successful connected that limb and determination was a small other propulsion down maine to get that takedown. I don't deliberation that was by chance.

"At the opening of the week, Brandon Mason, our doctor, we went to Life Church and helium was, like, ‘Hey, guys large sermon.’ I was listening to the sermon. He was talking astir David and Goliath. And David had a imaginativeness of triumph earlier helium stepped connected the mat."

Hendrickson suggested helium focused connected that communicative arsenic Steveson was the favourite to win.

President Donald Trump, greets Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson reacts aft helium defeated Minnesota's Gable Steveson astatine the NCAA wrestling championship, Saturday, March 22, 2025, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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"I benignant of carried that with maine each week. Even though helium went aft Goliath and everyone was, like, 'This can't beryllium done,' helium had a caput of a champion, helium had a imaginativeness of victory. Leading up to this tournament, I knew that my caput had to beryllium successful the close spot if I wanted to extremity up connected top.

"Going retired there, I was courageous. And my spot is – it worked out. I wrestled that match. I was patient. I went successful with the close mindset. And disconnected the bat I was, like, 'This isn't going to beryllium an casual match.' Right disconnected the opening it was scrambles connected the out. I didn't privation to concede immoderate points. That was the mindset I had to have, was to enactment similar I wanted to beryllium a champion and wrestle similar I wanted to beryllium a champion.

"He took maine down once. But I took him down erstwhile it mattered."

Hendrickson said helium plans connected serving successful the Air Force for the adjacent 20 years and is presently an acquisitions officer. He said he’s successful the World Class Athlete Program, which allowed him to wrestle this year.

"From the precise opening I knew I wanted to marque the subject my career, which was evidently wherefore I chose the Air Force Academy, I was looking astatine much than wrestling, I was looking astatine my vocation goals, beingness goals," helium added. "I could execute each those astatine the Air Force Academy. Wrestle successful the Big 12. Get a world-class education, being portion of thing bigger than myself.

Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson, right, takes connected Minnesota's Gable Steveson, Saturday, March 22, 2025, successful Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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"I'll wrestle for 3 much and past I'll bash my – I program connected staying for 20. Yes, I'm readying connected making a vocation retired of it. As soon arsenic I americium done wrestling, doing my required, but it volition beryllium astir 9 years. I program on, if it's not broken, it doesn't request to beryllium fixed."

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