Hendrickson Claims Gold, McKenna Silver on Final Day of the Pan-Am Wrestling Championship

STILLWATER – It’s hard to imagine how things could be any better for former Oklahoma State Cowboys heavyweight wrestler and now current Air Force World-Class Athlete Program and Cowboy RTC competitor Wyatt Hendrickson. Hendrickson is a second lieutenant in the United State Air Force and thanks to the WCAP and Cowboy RTC he has added to his NCAA Championship with a U.S. Open Championship earning him a spot in Final X to wrestle in the World Team competition and now adds a gold medal in the Pan-American Wrestling Championships. Yes, don’t forget, Hendrickson also got engaged to his sweetheart this past month. 

Hendrickson’s run through the Pan-American bracket at 125 kg added to titles won on Saturday in Monterrey, Mexico by Cowboy RTC wrestlers Ladarion Lockett and Zahid Valencia. Oklahoma State can’t officially claim him yet, but Cowboys 2026 verbal commitment Jax Forrest added to his Pennsylvania State Championship and U.S. Open Championship by winning gold in Mexico at 61 kg. The 17-year-old high school senior to be is really impressive. So is Lockett, who won four state championships at Stillwater High School and will be a freshman in the OSU wrestling room this fall.

Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors

Joey McKenna in his semifinal match in Mexico.

Cowboy RTC wrestler Joey McKenna made the finals at 65 kg in Monterrey, but fell to Argentina’s Agustin Destribats in a 5-4 decision in the final. 

Cowboy RTC had a competitor outside the United States team win gold as former Penn State wrestler Roman Bravo-Young wrestling for Mexico tool the title at 57 kg. Bravo-Young was at the Nittany Lion RTC but switched his singlet to Stillwater and the Cowboy RTC when David Taylor became Oklahoma State head coach. 

Hendrickson had two pins in his three matches to win at 125 kg. The championship match with Canada’s Richard DesChatelets lasted all of 23 seconds. 

SENIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS at Monterrey, Mexico

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Roman Bravo-Young at 57 kg  - GOLD

Quarters: Roman Bravo-Young, Mexico tech fall over Liam Cronin, USA, 10-0

Semis: Roman Bravo-Young, Mexico dec. over Pedro Jesus Mejias Rodriguez, Venezuela, 4-0

Finals: Roman Bravo-Young, Mexico tech fall over Lucas Anthony Rodriguez, Puerto Rico, 12-0

Joey McKenna at 65 kg - SILVER

Quarters: Joey McKenna, USA tech fall over Peiman Biabani, Canada, 11-0

Semis: Joey McKenna, USA tech fall over Matheus Da Luz Barreto, Brazil, 12-1

Finals: Agustin Destribats, Argentina dec. over Joey McKenna, USA, 5-4

Wyatt Hendrickson, 125 kg - GOLD

Quarters: Wyatt Hendrickson, USA pinned (10-0, 1:22) Maxwell Lacey, Costa Rica, 10-0 (1:22)

Semis: Wyatt Hendrickson, USA tech fallover Jose Diaz, Venezuela, 11-0

Finals:  Wyatt Hendrickson, USA pinned Richard DesChatelets, Canada, 9-0 (0:23)