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Wyatt Hendrickson’s jaw-dropping victory over Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling National Championships has now earned him another prestigious honor. On Monday, Hendrickson was awarded the Hodge Trophy, recognizing him as the nation’s best college wrestler for 2025.
The Hodge Trophy, often referred to as wrestling’s Heisman Trophy, is named after legendary wrestler Dan Hodge and has been awarded to past greats like Ben Askren and Bo Nickal. This year, Hendrickson edged out Penn State’s Carter Starocci, who made history as the first-ever five-time National Champion at 184 pounds, an achievement made possible by an extra year of COVID-19 eligibility. However, it was Hendrickson’s stunning upset that secured his spot as the top wrestler in the country.
Hendrickson’s path to the title was anything but ordinary. As an Air Force Academy member, he wasn’t eligible for the extended COVID-19 eligibility period, prompting his transfer to Oklahoma State, where he trained under Olympic champion David Taylor. With an incredible senior season, he marched into the 285-pound finals to face Steveson, a two-time National Champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner who had not given up a takedown all season.
That streak ended in the final minute of the championship match when Hendrickson executed a brilliant takedown, securing a dramatic 5-4 victory.
“I remember as soon as I got him taken down, I made up in my mind he is not getting up,” Hendrickson recalled. “I said I am winning this match. It’s over but I still had to follow through with that. It was just an exciting 10 to 15 seconds but I made up my mind. This guy is not getting up. I’m finishing this right here, right now.”
Now a National Champion and Hodge Trophy winner, Hendrickson is setting his sights on an even bigger challenge—making the 2028 Olympic team, potentially setting up a rematch with Steveson.
“Now there is a new big goal,” Hendrickson said. “Obviously this year was be a National Champion — well now the overarching goal for the next couple of years is going to be becoming an Olympic champion.”