There’s nothing quite like riding the high of a legendary upset. Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson sent shockwaves through the wrestling world when he toppled Gable Steveson—a feat no one saw coming. And just like that, the Cowboy became the heavyweight hero of the NCAA season.But now, as the dust settles and the Dan Hodge Trophy voting heats up, Hendrickson finds himself staring down yet another mountain. Except this one isn’t wearing a gold medal—it’s wearing Penn State blue.
The 2025 Hodge Trophy race features three undefeated NCAA champions—Hendrickson, Mitchell Mesenbrink, and Carter Starocci. On paper, Hendrickson boasts a perfect 27-0 record, including showstopping wins over Olympic champ Gable Steveson and Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet. But with 13 pins and an 81.5% bonus-point rate, Steveson’s made a strong case for the crown.
But here’s the kicker—Mesenbrink and Starocci haven’t lost either, and their resumes are stacked. Mesenbrink leads the trio in dominance with an absurd 88.9% bonus-point percentage, racking up 18 tech falls. Meanwhile, Starocci’s historic fifth NCAA title—something no one else has ever done—has wrestling purists ready to etch his name on the trophy.
Undefeated NCAA champions Mitchell Mesenbrink, Carter Starocci & Wyatt Hendrickson are finalists for Hodge Trophy; the @WINWrestlingMag online fan voting is now open. Winner announced March 31 @pennstateWREST @CowboyWrestling
Read: https://t.co/vSllMycpk5
— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) March 25, 2025
And that’s where Wyatt Hendrickson’s path gets murky. Even after dethroning a two-time NCAA champ like Gable Steveson, he’s still being talked about as a long shot. The votes don’t lie—flashy stats and narrative-heavy careers often swing the pendulum, and Mesenbrink’s machine-like dominance paired with Starocci’s legacy moment might just overshadow Hendrickson’s heavyweight heroics.
Wyatt Hendrickson isn’t done making noise—even without the hardware
For Hendrickson, the grind didn’t stop after the final whistle in Philly. This week, he sat down with the media in Stillwater, finally able to breathe after that jaw-dropping NCAA run. But the conversation quickly shifted to what’s next—and yes, the Hodge Trophy came up.
“Attitude is everything,” Hendrickson said. “If I had this mindset earlier in my career, maybe I’d have a couple more national titles.” And that mindset? It’s been fueled by more than just mat time. He gave a nod to David Taylor, the “Magic Man” himself, saying the difference this year came from learning under a coach who brought out something special.
Now, Hendrickson isn’t just a national champ—he’s a Hodge finalist. His numbers? Insane. Twenty-seven wins. Nine against All-Americans. Thirteen pins. The guy didn’t just win—he bulldozed through the bracket. Still, he knows what the Hodge means, and he’s not taking anything for granted. “That would be a nice trophy to have,” he admitted.
But let’s not forget about Dean Hamiti, who quietly pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. The transfer from Wisconsin took down a two-time NCAA champ in Keegan O’Toole and gave Oklahoma State its first champ at 174 in four years. Between him and Hendrickson, OSU didn’t just show up—they sent a message.
David Taylor summed it up best: this is just the beginning. The bar is high now in Stillwater, and whether it’s in the portal or the practice room, they’re building something serious. And while Hendrickson may or may not walk away with the Hodge, he’s already helped put Oklahoma State back in the spotlight—exactly where they belong.
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