Wyatt Hendrickson to Oklahoma State Official As He Signs With Pokes

(Robert Allen, Pokes Report publisher added to this story.)

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State head wrestling coach David Taylor announced the addition of standout heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson today, who joins the program with one year of eligibility remaining. Pokes Report and other outlets has reported Hendrickson’s decision to finish his last season of collegiate wrestling at Oklahoma State back in the early summer. Hendrickson could not make it official until finishing his summer responsibilities with the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Academy. This is a first and one-of-a-kind experience with an Academy graduate going to a major university to take an extra season of eligibility.

Over the past four years at Air Force, Hendrickson has proven to be one of the most powerful bonus-point threats in college wrestling as a four-time national qualifier and back-to-back third-place finisher at the NCAA Championships. He has led the NCAA in pins for three straight seasons, a stretch that included receiving the Most Dominant Wrestler Award in both 2022 and 2023, while reaching unprecedented heights for the Falcon program. With conference titles as a sophomore and junior, Hendrickson became the first Big 12 champion and four-time placer in Air Force history, cementing his place as one of the most decorated Falcons of all-time.

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In all, Hendrickson enters the 2024-25 season with a 100-11 record while earning bonus points in nearly 75% of his career matches. He boasts 43 wins over ranked opponents, 10 of which came against wrestlers in the top 10, and currently holds a 35-match winning streak in dual competition, dating back to January 30, 2021. Of his 83 bonus-point victories, 59 have come by fall, 16 by major decision and another eight by technical fall.

Hendrickson's 2024 campaign saw him enter the postseason undefeated for the third year in a row, this time sitting at 20-0. Following another trip to the Big 12 finals, Hendrickson was awarded the No. 3 seed at the NCAA Championships, his third-straight top-five national seed. There, Hendrickson placed third thanks to a 5-1 weekend and a trio of wins over opponents seeded inside the top 10. Despite his final two matches in consolations coming against Ohio State's ninth-seeded Nick Feldman and No. 6 Zack Elam of Missouri, Hendrickson easily downed the pair by a combined score of 28-7. Hendrickson was also invited to participate at the NWCA All-Star Classic early in the season and finished the year with 23 bonus-point wins as part of his 27-2 record.

Other accomplishments throughout his career include the 2023 Gorriaran Award for the most pins at the NCAA Championships, 2022 Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Wrestler, selection to Amateur Wrestling News' All-Rookie Team as a true freshman and an 84-6 overall record since the start of his sophomore year.

Hendrickson's success at the collegiate level has carried over to the freestyle circuit as well, winning gold at 125 kg at the U23 World Championships in Albania last fall. Hendrickson was hardly challenged throughout the event, pinning his opponent in the first round and defeating the next three, 31-6.

Originally from Newton, Kan., Hendrickson was a two-time state champion and three-time finalist at Newton High School.