College Wrestler Scores Upset Victory Then Salutes Trump After Winning Title
Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson paid tribute to President Donald Trump after pulling off a surprising victory at the NCAA championship on Saturday night.
Hendrickson, a former Air Force wrestler and current second lieutenant, shared a memorable patriotic gesture with the former commander in chief—who was seated at the edge of the mat—after defeating top-ranked University of Minnesota’s Gable Steveson in a 5-4 showdown to claim the Heavyweight title.
The salute occurred as the crowd at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center broke out in chants of “USA, USA.” Draped in an American flag, Hendrickson shook hands with Trump and shared a brief hug with the 47th president.
Speaking with ESPN after the encounter, Hendrickson revealed what Trump told him: “He said he was very proud of me.” The 24-year-old wrestler added, “He came here to support his troops. I put on a show for him. I wanted that national title.”
Trump was greeted with thunderous applause upon entering the arena, energizing the crowd.
He attended the event with DOGE CEO Elon Musk, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).
During his stellar four-year career at the Air Force Academy, Hendrickson earned the nickname “Captain America” and was recognized as an All-American.
Because athletes at service academies are not eligible to use a fifth year of NCAA eligibility at their original institutions, Hendrickson transferred to Oklahoma State’s wrestling program for his “COVID year” after receiving approval.
In his final collegiate match, Hendrickson went up against Gable Steveson, a two-time national champion and 2020 Olympic gold medalist in the men’s freestyle 125kg division.
Steveson, originally from Indiana, held a 3-2 lead with only 25 seconds left in the match. That’s when Hendrickson turned things around, securing Steveson’s right leg and driving him toward the mat near its edge. Awarded a 3-point takedown, Hendrickson maintained control for the final seconds and clinched the win.
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Although Hendrickson is an active-duty second lieutenant in the Air Force, he isn’t required to immediately begin full-time military service.
With Air Force approval, he remained in Stillwater, OK, after graduating to train with Cowboy RTC as he pursues a spot on the 2028 Olympic team, according to Oklahoma State’s athletics blog, Pistols Firing. After completing his wrestling career, Hendrickson will begin a mandatory five-year service commitment to the Air Force.
“I’m gonna make a career out of the military regardless,” Hendrickson said, according to the New York Post. “This is just part of the journey for me.”
During his 2024 campaign, Trump regularly attended ringside at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matches. UFC president Dana White, who supported Trump during his campaign, described the energy at the events when Trump entered the venue.
“It’s insane, you know, if you think about this, I’ve been doing this for, like, 23 years. When you’re walking with Trump, it’s a whole ‘nother level, man. The entire place erupted. Everybody was going crazy, and it was fun,” White told former conservative radio host Dan Bongino, who, in 2023, became FBI deputy director after being appointed by Trump.
Trump entered the arena with White and sat in the front row alongside former boxing heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, entertainer Kid Rock, and other celebrities.
White also pointed out that the UFC was the first to pack arenas again after the COVID lockdowns.
“When all the COVID bans were being lifted, it grew our business, I don’t know, like 70 percent or something like that, because we were the only thing to watch,” White told Bongino.