By Guest 
In a moment that will echo through wrestling history, Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson, dubbed “Captain America,” pulled off the unthinkable at the NCAA Wrestling Championships last night, toppling Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson in a nail-biting 5-4 victory to claim the heavyweight national title.
The Wells Fargo Center erupted in pandemonium as the Air Force Second Lieutenant delivered what many are calling the greatest upset in NCAA wrestling history – and he didn’t stop there. With the crowd roaring and U.S. President Donald Trump watching matside, Hendrickson sealed his triumph with a salute to his Commander-in-Chief, sparking wild “USA! USA!” chants that turned the night into a patriotic spectacle.
Captain America Shocks the World
The showdown was pure cinema. Steveson, a two-time NCAA champ and Tokyo 2020 Olympic hero, hadn’t surrendered a single takedown all season – until Hendrickson, trailing 4-2 with seconds ticking down, launched a desperate double-leg attack. With 21 seconds left, he powered through, flipping the script and the scoreboard to 5-4.
As the clock hit zero, ESPN’s Daniel Cormier lost it, screaming, “This is the craziest moment in NCAA history!” while former Olympic champ Jordan Burroughs dubbed it “the biggest upset ever.” Even wrestling legend Kurt Angle chimed in, comparing it to Dan Gable’s iconic 1970 finals loss.
But the drama didn’t end on the mat. Draped in an American flag, the 24-year-old Hendrickson – who transferred from the Air Force Academy to Oklahoma State for his final collegiate season – spotted President Trump in the stands. With a crisp salute, he honored the leader who’d come to cheer on “his troops,” as Hendrickson later put it.
Trump, greeted earlier with thunderous cheers and fist pumps from the Philly crowd, returned the gesture, later shaking Hendrickson’s hand and telling him, “I’m very proud of you.” The exchange lit up social media, with posts on X buzzing about the blend of military pride, athletic grit, and political star power.
Steveson, meanwhile, was left stunned. The Minnesota phenom, back in college wrestling after stints in WWE and an NFL tryout with the Buffalo Bills, saw his 70-match win streak snapped. Aiming for a third NCAA title, he held a 3-2 lead into the third period – only to be felled by Hendrickson’s late heroics. “Today, I took the gold medal. I’m number one,” Hendrickson declared post-match, crediting his faith and a David-and-Goliath mindset. “No one thought I could take down Goliath, but I did.”
The night wasn’t just about one man’s glory. Penn State claimed their third straight four-peat, racking up a record 177 points under coach Cael Sanderson, while OSU’s Dean Hamiti added a 174-pound title. But it was Hendrickson’s Cinderella story – and that electric Trump salute – that stole the headlines. Rumors swirled of Elon Musk joining Trump in the stands, though confirmation remains elusive amid the chaos of the night.
For Hendrickson, a first national title caps a 27-0 season and a journey from Air Force to OSU glory. For wrestling fans, it’s a moment of pure Americana they won’t soon forget. “It’s bigger than worlds, Olympics, anything,” Hendrickson said, tears in his eyes. And with Trump’s thumbs-up and a flag over his shoulders, Captain America just made it unforgettable.