Heavyweight Chaos: Hendrickson vs Steveson Shakes Up NCAA Wrestling
Nobody saw it coming—except maybe Wyatt Hendrickson himself.
In what may go down as one of the biggest upsets in college wrestling history, Oklahoma State’s Hendrickson stunned the wrestling world Saturday night by defeating Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson in the heavyweight final of the NCAA Championships. The highly anticipated Hendrickson vs Steveson showdown lived up to the hype and then some. The sold-out crowd in Philadelphia erupted as Hendrickson, trailing in the final minute, landed a takedown to win it 5-4. It was the only takedown Steveson had given up all year.
And just like that, one of the sport’s most dominant streaks—70 straight wins—was over.
The moment didn’t just belong to Hendrickson. It felt like a moment for everyone who’s ever been told, “you can’t.” Draped in the American flag, Hendrickson saluted former President Donald Trump in the crowd, then walked over, shook his hand, and shared a hug. Whether you’re into politics or not, the scene was undeniably powerful—a young athlete on top of the world, soaking in a moment of pure glory.
After the match, Hendrickson was visibly emotional.
“This means more to me than anything—more than worlds, more than the Olympics,” he said. “This was the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life.”
The victory made him Oklahoma State’s first heavyweight champion since 2005, a huge moment for one of the sport’s most storied programs.
Steveson’s Comeback Cut Short in Heartbreaking Fashion
Gable Steveson wasn’t supposed to lose. That’s not how these stories usually go.
The Minnesota star, who already had two national titles and Olympic gold to his name, had returned to college wrestling this season after a rollercoaster couple of years. He tried his hand at pro wrestling with WWE, gave football a shot with a tryout for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, and then decided to return to the mat—maybe for closure, maybe to remind the world who he was.
For most of the season, it looked like the same old Steveson—confident, dominant, unbeatable. But sports have a funny way of humbling even the best. He entered the third period of the final with a slim 3-2 lead. Then came that last-minute takedown by Hendrickson.
Just like that, it was over.
The loss doesn’t erase what Steveson’s done. He’s still a legend. But it does remind us that anything can happen in this sport—especially when someone like Hendrickson refuses to go quietly.
Penn State’s Wrestling Empire Rolls On
While the Hendrickson-Steveson match grabbed the spotlight, Penn State once again reminded everyone why it’s the gold standard in college wrestling.
The Nittany Lions claimed their twelfth NCAA team title under head coach Cael Sanderson, who now trails only Iowa’s Dan Gable (15 titles) for the all-time lead. And they did it in style—scoring a staggering 177 team points, the most in school history.
What really set this team apart? Depth. Every starter earned All-American honors—only the second time that’s ever happened in NCAA history (the first being Minnesota in 2001).
The centerpiece of the night for Penn State was Carter Starocci. Already a four-time champion at 174 pounds, Starocci moved up to 184 this season and knocked off defending champ Parker Keckeisen 4-3 to win an unprecedented fifth national title.
“It’s cool, for sure,” Starocci said, brushing off the hype in typical Penn State fashion. “But Coach Cael always says this is just part of the journey. There’s always more to chase.”
Also standing tall for the Nittany Lions was Mitchell Mesenbrink, who redeemed his runner-up finish from last year by dominating Iowa’s Michael Caliendo 8-2 in the 165-pound final. Mesenbrink went undefeated this season and looked every bit the champion.
Source: NCAA wrestling: Penn St. wins again; Hendrickson stuns Steveson
Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma State Make Statement Runs
Penn State may have taken the trophy, but several other programs left Philly with heads held high—and some serious momentum heading into next year.
Nebraska finished second overall with 117 points, their best NCAA showing ever. Ridge Lovett delivered one of the tournament’s best defensive performances, edging Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson 1-0 at 149 pounds. Lovett became the school’s first national champ since Jordan Burroughs back in 2011. At 157, Antrell Taylor held on to beat Purdue’s Joey Blaze 4-2 and made it a double-gold weekend for the Cornhuskers.
Oklahoma State’s Dean Hamiti had a wild ride at 174. He beat Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole 4-1 in sudden victory. O’Toole, a two-time national champ at 165, had a controversial takedown overturned during regulation that forced overtime. In the extra period, Hamiti got his shot and made it count.
Iowa, a perennial power, landed in fourth place with 81 points. The bright spot was Stephen Buchanan, who topped Penn State’s Josh Barr 5-2 in the 197-pound final. Buchanan, who previously wrestled for Wyoming and Oklahoma, became a rare All-American for three different programs—a testament to his grit and adaptability.
New Faces Shine Bright: The Future of Wrestling Is Here
Beyond the established stars, the 2025 NCAA Championships were a coming-out party for some of the sport’s youngest talents.
At 125 pounds, NC State’s Vincent Robinson, just a freshman, edged Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley 2-1 to win his first national title. Robinson’s poise and control throughout the match suggested he won’t be a one-and-done kind of star.
In the 133 final, Illinois’ Lucas Byrd got the better of Iowa’s Drake Ayala in a tactical 3-2 victory. That match felt more like chess than wrestling—two athletes constantly thinking, baiting, countering.
Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez might’ve had the comeback of the night. Down 5-0 to Nebraska’s top-seeded Brock Hardy at 141 pounds, Mendez stormed back to win 12-9. It was a gutsy performance from a guy who just knows how to win. That’s two straight national titles for him—and the Buckeyes may be building around him for years to come.
Final Word: A Night of Glory, Grit, and Greatness
Wrestling fans will be talking about the 2025 NCAA Championships for years—and not just because of one upset.
Yes, Wyatt Hendrickson’s takedown of Gable Steveson was epic. Yes, Carter Starocci made history. But what made this tournament truly special was the energy, the emotion, and the emergence of new stars right alongside the legends.
From the roar of the crowd during last-second heroics to the quiet tears of those who came up short, it was everything that makes college wrestling beautiful. Brutal. Inspiring.
Saturday night in Philadelphia, dreams were realized. Legends were humbled. New ones were born.
And through it all, the sport of wrestling showed once again that it doesn’t need bright lights or billion-dollar TV deals to be unforgettable—it just needs heart.
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