Wyatt Hendrickson Wins Hodge Trophy After Upsetting Gable Steveson

Wyatt Hendrickson`s incredible upset victory against Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson in the 2025 NCAA Wrestling National Championships finals has earned him another prestigious award.

Hendrickson was awarded the Hodge Trophy on Monday, recognizing him as the best college wrestler of the year. The Oklahoma State heavyweight wrestler received this coveted title for 2025. The Hodge Trophy, named after the legendary wrestler Dan Hodge, is wrestling`s equivalent to football`s Heisman Trophy. Previous winners include renowned wrestlers like Ben Askren and Bo Nickal.

Hendrickson was chosen over Carter Starocci from Penn State, another exceptional wrestler. Starocci made history by becoming the first, and possibly only, five-time National Champion wrestler after winning his final match at 184 pounds. Starocci`s fifth championship was possible due to an extra year of eligibility granted to wrestlers because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Starocci`s unprecedented achievement is remarkable, Hendrickson`s historic upset, one of the biggest in college sports, propelled him to become the nation`s best wrestler.

Hendrickson, a member of the Air Force, was initially ineligible for the extra year of eligibility because it wasn`t offered to service academy members. He then transferred to Oklahoma State and was coached by 2020 Olympic gold medalist David Taylor.

Following an impressive senior season, Hendrickson reached the 285-pound finals, where he faced Steveson. Steveson, a University of Minnesota star, two-time National Champion, and two-time Hodge Trophy winner, had not been taken down all season.

However, with less than a minute left in the final period, Hendrickson changed that. He secured a leg and took Steveson down for a three-point takedown, winning the match in a dramatic 5-4 victory.

“I remember as soon as I took him down, I decided he wasn`t getting back up,” Hendrickson told MMA Fighting about the final moments. “I told myself I was winning this match, it`s over, but I still had to finish it. I can think all of that, but I have to execute. Those 10 to 15 seconds were intense, but I was determined. This guy is not getting up. I`m ending this right here, right now.”

This win crowned Hendrickson as National Champion and Hodge Trophy winner as he prepares for the next phase of his career – pursuing a spot on the 2028 Olympic team and a potential rematch with Steveson.

“Now there`s a new big goal,” Hendrickson stated. “This year, it was to become a National Champion. Now, the main goal for the next few years is to become an Olympic champion.”