Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Wyatt Hendrickson Named Finalist for Hodge Trophy
March 25, 2025 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson was named a finalist for the 2025 WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy, presented annually by ASICS Wrestling to the nation's top NCAA Division I wrestler.
He is one of three finalists for the honor alongside Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink and Carter Starocci. The criteria for winning the award are record, dominance, bonus-point percentage, quality of competition and sportsmanship.
A fan vote will be counted toward the tally to determine the winner and can be found here.
Hendrickson completed his final collegiate season with a perfect 27-0 record and national title at heavyweight. The year was capped off by a historic upset in the NCAA finals over Minnesota's top-seeded Gable Steveson, who held an Olympic gold medal, two Hodge Trophies, multiple NCAA titles and was on the brink of a fourth consecutive undefeated collegiate season. That victory was preceded by a semifinal victory over Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet, the weight's defending national champion.
On the year, Hendrickson recorded nine wins over past or present All-Americans and scored bonus points 22 times. That total included eight technical falls, one default and 13 pins, the fourth-most in the country and more than double each of the other finalists. In the postseason alone, six of Hendrickson's nine matches resulted in a pin. He was named the NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler for the third time in his career, all while facing a 2025 national qualifier in 17 of his 27 matches.
His only decisions on the year came against Steveson, Kerkvliet and Arizona State's Cohlton Schultz and Isaac Trumble of NC State, the respective third- and fourth-place finishers at this year's NCAA Championships. Only six of Hendrickson's 27 matches this season went the distance and he allowed just four matches to reach the third period after the end of the first semester. Within those bouts, Hendrickson produced a takedown ratio of 60:3, a mark that would have likely been even better had it not been for his ability to end matches early from the top position.
He also captured his third career Big 12 championship, downing Schultz in the championship match to secure the team title for Oklahoma State. He also earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, the sport's toughest regular season tournament.
The coveted Hodge Trophy was created in 1994 by former WIN publisher Mike Chapman and is voted on by former winners, a retired coach from each region, national media members and a fan poll that is worth five first-place votes. Fans will be able to submit their votes online at WIN-Magazine.com.
Steve Mocco was the first Cowboy to ever win the award in 2005, while Alex Dieringer also received the honor in 2016.
The 2025 Hodge winner will be announced at noon CT on Monday, March 31.
He is one of three finalists for the honor alongside Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink and Carter Starocci. The criteria for winning the award are record, dominance, bonus-point percentage, quality of competition and sportsmanship.
A fan vote will be counted toward the tally to determine the winner and can be found here.
Hendrickson completed his final collegiate season with a perfect 27-0 record and national title at heavyweight. The year was capped off by a historic upset in the NCAA finals over Minnesota's top-seeded Gable Steveson, who held an Olympic gold medal, two Hodge Trophies, multiple NCAA titles and was on the brink of a fourth consecutive undefeated collegiate season. That victory was preceded by a semifinal victory over Penn State's Greg Kerkvliet, the weight's defending national champion.
On the year, Hendrickson recorded nine wins over past or present All-Americans and scored bonus points 22 times. That total included eight technical falls, one default and 13 pins, the fourth-most in the country and more than double each of the other finalists. In the postseason alone, six of Hendrickson's nine matches resulted in a pin. He was named the NCAA Most Dominant Wrestler for the third time in his career, all while facing a 2025 national qualifier in 17 of his 27 matches.
His only decisions on the year came against Steveson, Kerkvliet and Arizona State's Cohlton Schultz and Isaac Trumble of NC State, the respective third- and fourth-place finishers at this year's NCAA Championships. Only six of Hendrickson's 27 matches this season went the distance and he allowed just four matches to reach the third period after the end of the first semester. Within those bouts, Hendrickson produced a takedown ratio of 60:3, a mark that would have likely been even better had it not been for his ability to end matches early from the top position.
He also captured his third career Big 12 championship, downing Schultz in the championship match to secure the team title for Oklahoma State. He also earned Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, the sport's toughest regular season tournament.
The coveted Hodge Trophy was created in 1994 by former WIN publisher Mike Chapman and is voted on by former winners, a retired coach from each region, national media members and a fan poll that is worth five first-place votes. Fans will be able to submit their votes online at WIN-Magazine.com.
Steve Mocco was the first Cowboy to ever win the award in 2005, while Alex Dieringer also received the honor in 2016.
The 2025 Hodge winner will be announced at noon CT on Monday, March 31.
Players Mentioned
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