Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson pulled off what many thought was impossible on Saturday night when he scored a takedown on Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the NCAA heavyweight title.
Steveson — who recently spent time training with UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones — hadn’t been taken down once this year, but Hendrickson managed to do it with just 15 seconds remaining on the clock in the finals, earning three points and going ahead 5-4 on points. The win would crush Steveson’s dream to become a three-time NCAA champion, which was looking pretty inevitable given the dominating season (and career) he’s had.
The Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia exploded when Hendrickson won. Not only was this considered one of the most shocking upsets in NCAA history, but there was a contentious moment between the two heavyweights moments before their match. Watch it below (along with the rest of the historic match):
Hendrickson, a second lieutenant in the US Air Force, walked out to the mat with an American flag draped over his shoulders — a move traditionally reserved for wrestlers who have competed in the Olympics for the United States. Steveson crossed the mat and had some words with Hendrickson over the breach of protocol.
Hendrickson said there was was no disrespect meant in his actions.
“I noticed when I was walking up on the mat, he was walking over to say something,” he recalled at the post-event press conference. “He talked about that he’s an Olympic champion. He’s walked with that flag around his shoulders. And so I just took it as respect, you know? He’s obviously been an Olympic champion, and I was going up against Olympic champion.”
“I wasn’t doing that in any way or shape or form to mock him,” Hendrickson added. “I’m just proud of my service and what I’ve done and what I’ll continue to do. So that’s the real reason I wore a flag. I’ve already explained that we’re one nation under God at the end of the day.”
“I think it’s more than wrestling,” Hendrickson said of the flag. “And I think trying to portray that and give the image of that is important. In wrestling, we’re so honored that we live in a free country and we’re able to come together in these events and do what we love and be able to receive the support while we’re wrestling on that mat. So I just like to bring that energy into the arena, that we’re all on one team at the end of the day.”
NCAA competition is one thing, but in the end Hendrickson sees everyone out there as a fellow American first and foremost.
“Obviously, we’re going head to head in here,” Hendrickson said. “But iron sharpens iron at the end of the day, and when we go to the Olympics or whatever we have to do, we’re all one team in the end.”
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
