In a stunning upset that will be talked about for years to come, Wyatt Hendrickson achieved a remarkable comeback victory against Olympic champion Gable Steveson in the NCAA wrestling finals held in Philadelphia on Saturday night. This match is already being hailed as one of the most significant upsets in the history of NCAA wrestling.
Gable Steveson, the 2020 Olympic gold medalist, came into the finals with an aura of invincibility. Throughout the season and the NCAA tournament, which commenced the previous Thursday, Steveson had not conceded a single takedown. After securing an early takedown against Hendrickson, it appeared he was well on his way to securing his third national title and maintaining his dominant streak.
However, the tide dramatically turned in the final 30 seconds of the match. Hendrickson seized an opportunity, locking onto Steveson`s leg and executing a decisive takedown. The wrestler from Oklahoma State maintained control until the clock ran out, leaving Steveson visibly dejected on the mat as Hendrickson began to celebrate his monumental victory.
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, commentating on the match for ESPN, perfectly captured the astonishment of everyone watching.
“Oh my goodness! Wyatt Hendrickson just beat Gable Steveson!” Cormier exclaimed. “Oh my god! That’s crazy! Oh my goodness. This is the craziest moment in NCAA history! I’m just happy I could say I was here to watch. I don’t know if I’ve ever been that surprised at a wrestling match.”
The final score of the match was 5-4 in favor of Hendrickson.
The magnitude of Hendrickson`s win is amplified by the context of Steveson`s season. Steveson had returned to college wrestling for his final year of eligibility with the explicit goal of winning another NCAA title. This return came after a brief and unsuccessful stint in WWE professional wrestling and a short attempt at professional football with the Buffalo Bills, where he was released before the season began.
Following these ventures, Steveson`s return to college wrestling saw him dominate his competition throughout the season, until he faced Hendrickson on Saturday.
“Today, I took the gold medal, I’m No. 1,” Hendrickson stated. “I was telling myself I know I can do this. God gifted me. All week I’ve been looking at David and Goliath and no one thought David could take down Goliath but I did.”
Hendrickson, an Air Force member, transferred to Oklahoma State for his final year, training under Olympic champion David Taylor, who is in his first year as head coach. Hendrickson concludes his college wrestling career as an NCAA champion, now boasting a victory over Steveson as a defining achievement on his record.
