Oklahoma State National Champion Heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson Wins Hodge Trophy

Wyatt Hendrickson has won wrestling’s Heisman Trophy.

Hendrickson was named the Dan Hodge Trophy winner on Monday. He’s the third Oklahoma State wrestler to win the award, joining Alex Dieringer (2016) and Steve Mocco (2005). Hendrickson won the award over fellow finalists Carter Starocci (Penn State) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State).

“It’s been a lot of hard work compiled over the past five years,” Hendrickson said in OSU’s release. “Being a dominant wrestler is something I’ve really embraced and the biggest award you can get for that is this one. It’s an absolute blessing. It feels great. It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of people that have poured a lot of effort into me.”

Hendrickson wasn’t in much of the Hodge talk throughout the year despite dominating all season. Why? Well, it was assumed Hendrickson’s magical year would come to an end against Olympic champion and two-time Hodge winner Gable Steveson in the national final. Instead, Hendrickson beat Steveson with a third-period takedown that sent shockwaves throughout the wrestling world. In many aspects, Hendrickson won the national title and the Hodge Trophy with that takedown.

YOU JUST GOTTA BELIEVE BABY

pic.twitter.com/LIfSVDVIRP

— OSU Cowboy Wrestling (@CowboyWrestling) March 23, 2025

Hendrickson went 27-0 in his lone season at OSU after transferring from Air Force. In those 27 matches, 21 ended via either fall or technical fall. He was 17-0 against wrestlers who qualified for the 2025 national tournament and 8-0 against 2025 All-Americans. Hendrickson beat two NCAA champs on his way to his national title, besting 2024 national champion Greg Kerkvliet 8-2 in the national semifinal before his big win against Steveson.

This is also another feather in the cap of first-year coach David Taylor. In his first year at OSU, Taylor took the Cowboys to a third-place finish at the national tournament, delivering six All-Americans, two national champions and now a Hodge Trophy winner. Taylor is one of six to win the Hodge multiple times, as OSU’s coach took home the hardware in 2012 and 2014.

“I’m just so proud of Wyatt for everything he’s accomplished this season,” Taylor said. “This is all a testament to his work ethic and the belief he had in himself. His development throughout the year was really special to watch.”