Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson delivered a shocking upset in the NCAA men’s wrestling heavyweight final on Saturday night, defeating Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson 5-4 in a dramatic showdown. The event was attended by former President Donald Trump.
Hendrickson, who transferred from Air Force, trailed throughout the final match of the evening until securing a takedown in the final minute—the only one Steveson had conceded all season.
Following his victory, Hendrickson saluted Trump. Draped in a United States flag, he walked over to shake Trump’s hand before embracing him as part of his celebration. According to Etruesports.co.uk, Trump’s appearance at the tournament marked his second in recent years; he also attended in 2023 while campaigning in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Historic Win for Oklahoma State
Hendrickson’s triumph made him the first Oklahoma State wrestler to claim an NCAA heavyweight title since Steve Mocco accomplished the feat in 2005.
“It’s bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything,” an emotional Hendrickson said just moments after securing the victory.
Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Steveson, who was aiming for his third national title, saw his 70-match win streak come to an end. The 2021 and 2022 national champion initially retired following the 2022 tournament to pursue a career in professional wrestling with WWE, primarily competing in NXT, the company’s developmental brand.
After his WWE release, Steveson attempted an NFL career, trying out for the Buffalo Bills despite having no background in organized football. However, he did not make the team and eventually returned to Minnesota for another season of collegiate wrestling.
Steveson entered the third period of the final with a 3-2 lead but surrendered the decisive takedown with around 20 seconds remaining. The crowd erupted as Hendrickson secured the points and held on for the victory.
The two wrestlers had met once before, when Steveson defeated Hendrickson by technical fall in a second-round match during the 2021 NCAA tournament.
Penn State Dominates With Another Championship Run
Penn State continued its dominance by securing its third consecutive four-peat, running away with the program’s 12th NCAA Division I men’s wrestling national title under head coach Cael Sanderson. Only Iowa’s Dan Gable holds more team titles (15).
The night saw Carter Starocci make history by winning an unprecedented fifth national title, edging out Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen 4-3 in the 184-pound final. Keckeisen had entered the tournament as the defending champion in the weight class.
Starocci, who previously won four national titles at 174 pounds, put the accomplishment into perspective.
“It means a lot to me, but as for me—I never want to downplay the moment—but I mean, it’s always cool, but one thing that Coach Cael really instills in us, this is all just preparation for the next thing,” Starocci said.
Oklahoma State’s Wyatt HendricksonPenn State also made history as just the second program to have 10 All-Americans in a single season, a feat previously achieved only by Minnesota in 2001.
The Nittany Lions racked up 177 points, surpassing their own previous scoring record set last year. They also celebrated another champion as Mitchell Mesenbrink claimed the 165-pound title, defeating Iowa’s Michael Caliendo 8-2. Mesenbrink completed an undefeated season, rebounding from his runner-up finish in last year’s national final.
Nebraska Shines With Best Tournament Finish in Program History
Nebraska secured a second-place finish with 117 points, marking its best NCAA tournament performance ever. The Cornhuskers celebrated two individual national champions:
- Ridge Lovett won at 149 pounds, narrowly defeating Virginia Tech’s defending champion, Caleb Henson, 1-0.
- Antrell Taylor claimed victory at 157 pounds, holding off Purdue’s Joey Blaze 4-2.
Oklahoma State finished in third place with 102.5 points, followed by Iowa in fourth place with 81 points.
Other Champions Crowned
The tournament also saw notable performances from wrestlers across multiple weight classes:
- NC State freshman Vincent Robinson won at 125 pounds, defeating Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley 2-1.
- Illinois’ Lucas Byrd captured the 133-pound title, edging Iowa’s Drake Ayala 3-2.
- Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez, the No. 2 seed, staged a dramatic comeback in the 141-pound final, erasing a 5-0 deficit to defeat Nebraska’s No. 1 seed, Brock Hardy, 12-9, securing his second straight national title.
- Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett, in addition to his team’s strong overall showing, became the first Cornhuskers wrestler to win a national championship since Jordan Burroughs in 2011.
Thrilling Finish at 174 Pounds and Beyond
The 174-pound final delivered one of the night’s most dramatic finishes.
- Oklahoma State’s Dean Hamiti defeated Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole 4-1 in overtime. O’Toole, a two-time national champion at 165 pounds (2022, 2023), had challenged a takedown during regulation that was reversed, allowing him to push the match into sudden victory overtime. However, another takedown review in overtime stood, sealing Hamiti’s victory.
- Hamiti celebrated his win alongside Oklahoma State’s first-year head coach, David Taylor.
At 197 pounds, Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan defeated Penn State’s Josh Barr 5-2, making him an All-American at three different schools—having previously wrestled for Wyoming and Oklahoma before transferring to Iowa.
A Tournament to Remember
From Wyatt Hendrickson’s historic upset over Gable Steveson to Carter Starocci’s record-breaking fifth title, the 2024 NCAA men’s wrestling championships delivered unforgettable moments, cementing legacies and reshaping the landscape of collegiate wrestling.