Wyatt Hendrickson surprises and defeats Olympic champion Gable Steveson to seize the wrestling national championship, subsequently rejoicing with President Trump.
Rewritten Article:
In an unforeseen twist at the 2025 NCAA wrestling championships, Oklahoma State's Wyatt Hendrickson, a.k.a. "Captain America," orchestrated what commentators have hailed as one of the most electrifying upsets in wrestling history against none other than Olympic champion Gable Steveson. This thrilling showdown went down inPhiladelphia, with Hendrickson snatching an exhilarating 5-4 victory in the final seconds, marking a monumental defeat for the seemingly indomitable Steveson.
Hendrickson, trailing 4-2 with mere seconds remaining, capitalized on the opportunity to execute a spectacular takedown - a rare feat managed by Steveson's opponents all season long. The dramatic win sent the crowd into a frenzy, while the victorious Hendrickson fell to his back in shock, quickly being overrun by his jubilant coaching team. An astonished Steveson knelt nearby, marveling at the unforeseen twist of events.
In a poignant moment post-match, Hendrickson saluted then-President Donald Trump, who was present for the tournament. The two later shared a handshake and an embrace under an American flag draped over Hendrickson's shoulders. "This is bigger than the Olympics, worlds, anything," Hendrickson emotionally shared with the press, per AP.
Steveson, a two-time national champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist in the 125kg weight class, entered the final on a remarkable 70-match unbeaten streak. He had been fated to complete another season without a loss, but for Hendrickson's stunning win.
Not to be outshined, Hendrickson also entered the finals undefeated but faced an uphill battle against Steveson. With only 20 seconds left in the match, Hendrickson miraculously seized the opportunity for a takedown and took the lead, managing to maintain it until the final whistle blew, with the crowd roaring their approval.
In the final seconds, Hendrickson revealed that he stubbornly squeezed Steveson to prevent losing on a technicality, inching close to tearing his arms in the process. He declared, "I have made up my mind. If he stood up, I wouldn't have needed to lock my hands. I was, 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."
In addition to Hendrickson's titanic victory, Oklahoma State enjoyed a successful tournament day, thanks to Dean Hamiti Jr.'s own breathtaking upset win over two-time national champion Keegan O'Toole in the 174-pound title match. Elsewhere, Penn State's Carter Starocci claimed a fifth national title, narrowly defeating Northern Iowa's Parker Keckeisen 4-3 in the 184-pound final.
- Against all odds, Wyatt Hendrickson, the Oklahoma State wrestler also known as "Captain America", executed a remarkable upset at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships, defeating Olympic champion Gable Steveson in a nail-biting 5-4 victory.
- In the final seconds of the match, Hendrickson gripped Steveson tightly to prevent losing due to a technicality, willing himself to victory even if it meant potentially tearing his arms.
- Following his historic victory, Hendrickson saluted then-President Donald Trump, who was present for the tournament, sharing a handshake and an embrace beneath an American flag draped over his shoulders.
