Oklahoma State Champions Meet with Media - Hendrickson a Finalist for Hodge Trophy
(Zach Lancaster contributed to this article)
STILLWATER – The comments were a little lighter and maybe a little less intense after NCAA individual wrestling champions Wyatt Hendrickson (heavyweight), Dean Hamiti Jr. (174 pounds, and Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor met with local media inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
It was all about the stories and what Hendrickson and Hamiti accomplished as both defeated former or defending NCAA champions in both the semifinals and championship matches in Philadelphia at the national tournament.
“Attitude is so big because in wrestling if you have that attitude of being dominant then your opponent is going to feel that pressure,” Hendrickson said of ingredients to winning and accomplishing the kind of upset he did against unbeaten NCAA two-time champion and Olympic Gold Medal winner Gabel Steveson. “If I had that in my previous seasons then I might have a couple more national championships. Everything from the Air Force Academy on I wouldn’t go back and change that for anything. (Also) I didn’t have the extra sprinkle of magic (David Magic Man Taylor as his coach) yet.”
The combination of Hendrickson, Taylor, and Hamiti Jr. had fun remembering the weekend and telling stories. One new bit of news was 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.
“That would be a nice trophy to have,” Hendrickson said acknowledging he knows the history of the Hodge Trophy.
Hendrickson finished his season with a perfect 27-0 record, which included nine wins over All-Americans, and recorded bonus point wins in 22 matches. That number including eight tech falls, one default and 13 pins, a number more than double of any of the other finalists in 2025.
How fitting would it be for Hendrickson to win the Hodge this year as he became the first OSU heavyweight to win a title since Steve Mocco in 2005, who was the first Cowboy to ever win the Hodge Trophy.
“I learned a lot this year, I’ve developed a lot as a wrestler this year,” said Hendrickson. “I like to say, ‘when you go to learn from a magician, you tend to learn magic.”
What shouldn’t be lost in the insanity is Hamiti’s title. He became the first Cowboy to win a title in four years, and did so over a two-time national champ, Keegan O’Toole, a wrestler not many people have had success against. Heck, Hamiti lost to O’Toole in the finals of the Big 12 championships a few weeks back.
“I just had to stay focused and present during the whole match,” said Hamiti. “In the Big 12s, I kind of got off path a little bit and I paid for it. So, really making sure I was present for every single moment of the finals match.”
Now, obviously, no one is going to forget Hamiti’s title, at least not here in Stillwater. Alongside Hendrickson, Hamiti was the most successful wrestler this year for the Pokes, as well as throughout the nation. There will be kids who grow up wanting to be just like ‘Mean Dean,’ mirroring their entire approach to the sport after him.
So, for him to clinch a title, in his own words, was awesome.
“It took me a little bit to kind of just unwind and relax a little bit and then it hit me once I started getting a bunch of text messages of congratulations,” said Hamiti. “It was awesome; it felt fulfilled and grateful.”
Now, how does Oklahoma State capitalize on this year moving forward? First and foremost, hit the transfer portal and try and replace some guys leaving. What better way to recruit the portal than by saying two transfers won national titles in their first year in Stillwater?
“I think when we first got here and in our first press conference, we laid out a plan on how we were going to be successful,” said coach Taylor. “I’d say up until this weekend, the people who decided to come here, there’s an element of just blind trust. After this weekend, they’ve seen it; they’ve seen what it can do, which is exciting. The reality is, we’re just trying to create an environment that kids can come and fulfill their dreams, enjoy what they’re doing and just help them continue to progress. We’re just trying to be the best that we can be. If that’s becoming a national champion and that’s the pinnacle, then that’s great. If that’s becoming an All-American, then that’s great too. But we set our standards high and we’re going to continue to hold guys to those standards. It’s ultimately their goals; we’re just trying to help them.”
