‘Captain America’: Newton’s Wyatt Hendrickson pulls off all-time upset for NCAA title
If you’ve tried to message Wyatt Hendrickson since Saturday night, he apologizes because he more than likely has not been able to respond.
His family has jokingly told him he needs to hire a publicist to field the overwhelming amount of interview requests that have poured in from all over the country.
But that’s what happens when you have a compelling back story, like being a lieutenant in the United States Air Force, then pull off arguably the greatest upset in the history of the NCAA Men’s Wrestling Championships and go even more viral for a salute to President Donald Trump with an American flag draped over you.
And that’s how the Newton, Kansas native transformed from a standout in the wrestling world to an instant celebrity nicknamed “Captain America” overnight.
“It’s been a little crazy for us,” Lynnette Hendrickson, his mother, told The Eagle. “It’s still so surreal and our phones are still blowing up.”
Hendrickson, in his final year at Oklahoma State, was considered an elite heavyweight wrestler. But even he was considered a preposterous underdog when matched against Minnesota’s Gable Steveson, who entered with an Olympic gold medal, two Hodge trophies, two NCAA titles, a 73-match winning streak and was almost unanimously considered the best heavyweight wrestler in the world.
A man of faith, Hendrickson said he was moved by a church sermon before the team left for the national tournament in Philadelphia.
“The sermon talked about David and Goliath and how David had a vision of victory,” Hendrickson told reporters in Philadelphia. “I carried that with me all week. Even though he went after Goliath and everyone was like this can’t be done, he had the mindset of a champion. He had the vision of victory.”
Steveson was accustomed to steamrolling through his competition, so by most standards, it was an accomplishment for Hendrickson to only be trailing 4-2 entering the final period.
But up against Steveson, who had not allowed a takedown all season, the chances of victory were beyond minuscule entering the final 30 seconds of the match.
That’s why ESPN broadcasters Daniel Cormier and Jordan Burroughs lost their minds when Hendrickson took his shot, scrambled with Stevenson, came up with a miracle double leg takedown, then rode him out for the final 21 seconds of the match for a 5-4 victory.
“The biggest upset in the history of the NCAA Tournament!” shouted Cormier over the pandemonium of the crowd.
Back in Newton, his former high school wrestling coach, Tommy Edgmon, screamed in celebration.
“You talk about a kid who has worked his way all the way up and you’ve seen him progress since he was in middle school,” Edgmon told The Eagle. “I heard him talk about how it was a David vs. Goliath scenario and man, he pulled it off. Never say never with a heart like his. I’m just so proud of him.”
In his post-victory press conference, Hendrickson said he felt the presence of God with him on the mat.
“My arms have never felt so strong,” he said. “In my head, I was thinking I knew I was going to win this match, so I didn’t care if I had to rip my arms off squeezing him, I am holding this man down and I am winning this match.”
His father, Todd, who coached him since he was a young boy, wildly celebrated with his family just off the mat. Meanwhile, his mother, Lynnette, was poised until the final buzzer sounded to solidify that her son had just become a national champion.
“Wyatt asked me afterward why I looked so composed (during the match),” Lynnette said. “I just felt like God was going to use him in a mighty way, I really did. I just felt like it was his time.”
Lost in such a dramatic finish was the fact that Hendrickson had to hold Steveson down for 21 seconds to ride him out for the victory.
“That was one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” said Oklahoma State coach David Taylor, an Olympic gold medalist himself. “This is a sport where everyone’s got a chance, you’ve just got to believe. And Wyatt believed.”
In the chaotic 24 hours that followed Wyatt’s dramatic victory, his parents have had a chance to reflect on the journey their son has taken from Newton to national sensation.
Wyatt was a 2-time Kansas high school state wrestling champion during his career at Newton, which led to an opportunity to wrestle collegiately at the Air Force Academy. He placed third in heavyweight at the national tournament in 2023 and 2024 and won a world title at U23 World Championships in 2023 before enrolling in the World Class Athlete Program, which allowed him to delay his military service to pursue his wrestling career at OSU.
The parents laughed about how many miles Todd logged on the family vehicle when Wyatt was growing up, as he drove him all over the country to participate in wrestling tournaments. He also worked closely with Newton youth wrestling coach Matt Treaster to help train Wyatt. The father pushed him when he needed to be pushed and loved him when he needed to be loved. And in the end, it helped raise a champion.
When asked about the special father-son bond, Todd had to politely decline a phone interview because his voice was so hoarse from yelling in Philadelphia.
“Wrestling is not an easy sport, especially for a young child, because it’s so hard mentally and physically,” Lynnette said. “There were a lot of sacrifices that had to be made. A lot of people end up quitting, but his dad said, ‘Son, we’re going to stick with this. You have a gift and you’re going to stick with it.’
“It’s hard for a kid to comprehend that when he’s young. But in the years since, Wyatt will randomly call us up and say, ‘Thank you guys for everything you did for me and the sacrifices you made.’”
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