Wyatt Hendrickson knew the odds were stacked against him going up against Gable Steveson in the 2025 NCAA Wrestling National Championship Finals.
Considering he was going up against an Olympic gold medalist, two-time National Champion, and the top wrestler in the United States, Hendrickson understood why it almost seemed destined that Steveson would leave with his hand raised. But the Air Force-to-Oklahoma State transfer says a sermon about David and Goliath he heard in church just days before he entered his final college wrestling tournament gave him the inspiration he needed to know he could topple a giant like Steveson.
“It was a vision of victory,” Hendrickson told MMA Fighting. “I kind of brought that into this week. I was like how can I apply this to my wrestling? Because you’re absolutely right. Some of those big matches, it’s like it’s already spoken for. It’s already done. So I think that’s the majority of what people were feeling about that match. Because you have this somewhat OK wrestler, a couple time All-American but then we’ve got Olympic gold medalist, multiple National Champion. People didn’t expect that to be a title fight match, so to speak, in the finals.
“I think going into this week, I knew that my mind had to be in the right place. That sermon carried me throughout the week.”
Once he got on the mat this past Saturday night, Hendrickson was fully confident that he could go toe-to-toe with Steveson and he kept the score close through three periods. With less than one minute remaining, Hendrickson was down 4-2 and that’s when he saw the opening to snatch Steveson’s leg and go for the takedown that eventually won him the match.
“Putting myself back in that moment, the match wasn’t over. I knew that,” Hendrickson said. “I knew the time was coming down. It was time for my shot. I got the leg, I got the takedown. In my brain, it was a go moment. Chop the wrist! Keep him down! The only time I really had to think was as soon as he was starting to stand up because I had a death grip on him. I felt like a python. I was wrapped around him. He’s not getting away.
“He started to get to his feet and I had two choices. I could hold him down and try to keep pushing him or I could get a big lift and return. The big lift and return probably would have been a great ending but sometimes it’s better to be safe than sorry. I knew I had a good grip on him. I knew he was feeling my pressure. It was a long 20 seconds, also, that was a long 20 seconds.”
The determination paid off after Hendrickson shut down Steveson’s escape and time ticked away to the final whistle.
“I remember as soon as I got him taken down, I made up in my mind he is not getting up,” Hendrickson said. “I said I am winning this match. It’s over but I still had to follow through with that. I can say all that stuff but I have to act on it. 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.”
Wyatt Hendrickson recounts ‘unreal’ upset of Gable Steveson, reveals future plans including possible MMA move
Wyatt Hendrickson talks potential MMA career after historic upset of Gable Steveson.
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