In a groundbreaking evening at the NCAA men’s wrestling championships in Philadelphia, Carter Starocci from Penn State etched his name into the record books with an exceptional fifth national title. Meanwhile, a dramatic upset took place as Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson defeated Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson 5-4 in the heavyweight final. Notably, this event drew the attention of former President Donald Trump, who was in attendance and was met with a salute from Hendrickson following his remarkable victory.
Hendrickson, who transferred from Air Force, clinched his win in the last match of the night by executing a takedown in the final minute — marking the only takedown Steveson had conceded all season long. In a powerful display of patriotism and respect, Hendrickson draped himself in a United States flag before shaking hands and sharing a hug with Trump at the conclusion of his match.
Reflecting on his achievement, an emotional Hendrickson expressed, “It’s bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything.” His opponent, Minnesota’s Steveson, who was aiming for a third national title, had been enjoying a 70-match winning streak. Although Steveson retired following his 2022 championship win, he chose to return this year, having had periods in both World Wrestling Entertainment and the National Football League. The match’s intensity peaked when Hendrickson equalized and surpassed Steveson with a last-minute takedown.
Meanwhile, Penn State’s dominance was further solidified as they secured their 12th men’s Division I national title under the guidance of coach Cael Sanderson. Starocci triumphed over Northern Iowa’s defending champion Parker Keckeisen with a narrow 4-3 win in the 184-pound final. Speaking on this achievement, Starocci remarked on how it was merely preparation for bigger challenges ahead, a sentiment encouraged by his coach, Cael Sanderson.
Penn State demonstrated their might by having 10 All-Americans in a single season, amassing 177 points to eclipse their previous record. Their remarkable performance was bolstered with another title as Mitchell Mesenbrink won the 165 final with an 8-2 victory over Iowa’s Michael Caliendo, maintaining an unbeaten season. Nebraska proudly finished second, tallying their personal best of 117 points, highlighted by title wins from Ridge Lovett at 149 and Antrell Taylor at 157. Oklahoma State placed third, scoring 102.5 points, with Iowa following in fourth at 81 points.
In other notable performances, North Carolina State’s freshman Vincent Robinson topped Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley 2-1 at 125, and Illinois’ Lucas Byrd eked out a 3-2 win over Iowa’s Drake Ayala at 133. Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez showed resilience, coming from behind 5-0 to overturn Nebraska’s Brock Hardy 12-9 and secure his second consecutive national title at 141. Meanwhile, Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett claimed victory at 149, narrowly defeating Virginia Tech’s defending champion Caleb Henson 1-0.
At 157 pounds, Nebraska’s Antrell Taylor prevailed over Purdue’s Joey Blaze 4-2. Oklahoma State’s Dean Hamiti outmaneuvered Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole 4-1 in an overtime victory at 174. O’Toole, a former national champ at 165, faced two critical takedown reversals during this match, allowing Hamiti to capitalize in overtime. Finally, Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan earned a 5-2 win against Penn State’s Josh Barr in the 197 final, adding yet another feather in his cap, having been an All-American at different institutions.