From Air Force cadet to NCAA legend—Wyatt Hendrickson is the unstoppable force rewriting wrestling history, one takedown at a time. Wyatt is a new dominant force on the mat, who started his wrestling journey when he was just six years old. The Air Force guy was the two-time state champion and a four-time USA Wrestling All-American. He even got an excellence award. Moving forward to 2025, almost every wrestling fan is rooting for Wyatt and in awe of his dominance. Not only on the mat but also otherwise.
Wyatt Hendrickson put together a flawless 27–0 season, culminating in one of the biggest NCAA upsets ever, defeating Olympic champion Gable Steveson 5–4 in the final seconds. That moment? After defeating Gable, Wyatt was to get handed over America’s flag, and before receiving it, he saluted President Donald Trump, who was sitting in the audience. But behind the medals and spotlight is a story of grit, guidance, and the coaches who helped shape him into the powerhouse he is today.
Meet Coach Tommy Edgmon
Wyatt Hendrickson’s wrestling journey began long before he became a household name. At Newton High School, he was a four-year letter winner under the guidance of Head Coach Tommy Edgmon. His leadership was undeniable—he was named team captain twice and quickly established himself as a dominant force on the mat.
During his high school career, Wyatt captured two Kansas state championships and was a three-time finalist. But he wasn’t just making waves locally. Nationally, he earned All-American honors four times in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals. Add to that a USAW Folkstyle All-American nod, an NHSCA Senior National Championship, a Super 32 finalist appearance, and a FloNationals title—and you’ve got a young athlete clearly destined for greatness.
Wyatt didn’t slow down after high school either. He spent a year at the U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School, where he won the 2020 National Collegiate Open title—another major step in his development. By then, he was already turning heads, ranked the No. 2 recruit at his weight by TheOpenMat.com and No. 3 by FloWrestling. And just to round out the resume? He earned a gold letter for academics in his senior year. Wrestling wasn’t the only area where Wyatt Hendrickson was setting the bar high.
Who is Sam Barber?
Sam Barber is the head coach of the Air Force wrestling program, and he coached Wyatt Hendrickson when he was on the team. In 2024–2025, Barber began his eleventh season as head coach. Barber has 17 seasons of coaching experience at the Academy, having served as a full-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the preceding five years before assuming the head coaching role.
While talking about Hendrickson, Barber proudly said, “I’m grateful, and we’re grateful as an institution and program for what Wyatt Hendrickson’s been and what he means for the Air Force Academy and the Air Force wrestling program.” The Captain America’s rise to wrestling stardom isn’t just a solo act—it’s a story of raw talent, unmatched drive, and the coaches who believed in him every step of the way.
Under Sam Barber, the Air Force guy led the squad and was named an All-American after finishing third. Since 2003, Hendrickson has become the program’s first All-American. Hendrickson earned his second All-America selection in 2024 after repeating his third-place finish. Three Falcons placed 21st in the championship field and advanced to the national event.
Before landing at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Coach Barber had already built an impressive résumé in the wrestling world. He first made his mark with USA Wrestling, where he managed the National Coaches Education Program—helping shape the next generation of wrestling mentors. Before that, Sam Barber spent seven years at Augsburg College, where he started as the head assistant coach. And after spending four long seasons in that role, he was promoted to associate head coach in 2005 and eventually became the head coach in 2007.
Barber’s coaching journey began right after graduating from Upper Iowa University in 1995. He served as the head assistant coach there for four years, then took over as head coach in 1999. He didn’t stop learning either—while earning his master’s degree in educational leadership at Minnesota State-Mankato, he worked as a graduate assistant and helped guide the team to an impressive fifth-place finish at the 2001 NCAA Division II Championships.
Who is Coach Matt Treaster?
“(He) did not win a single match in his first year of youth wrestling. He also didn’t qualify for kids state as a sixth-grader, and then again didn’t qualify for high school state as a high school freshman… But even with those hiccups along the way, he persevered and kept working hard to have the incredible level of success that he’s had in his college and high school career,” Treaster once said about Wyatt Hendrickson in an NCAA press conference.
Matt first became interested in wrestling when he was seven years old, and he still is. Matt was a four-time state champ in high school, as the Beloit Trojans won six straight Kansas State wrestling team titles. Period? From 1980 to 1985. As a child, he also won the Kids Federation State Tournament in 1977 and 1981. Treaster trained Wyatt during his youth competition.
Who is David Taylor?
Wyatt Hendrickson’s work ethic and discipline were unmatched, but the Air Force wasn’t originally part of his plan. In fact, he almost threw away the opportunity until his father talked him into it. And thank goodness he did; otherwise, wrestling couldn’t witness wrestlers like Wyatt.
In this journey, another mentor who has helped him rise is David Taylor. Taylor, who has himself had a very amazing wrestling journey from collegiate wrestler to head coach. Wyatt’s final collegiate year took him to Oklahoma State, where everything came full circle. Under the guidance of head coach and Olympic gold medalist David Taylor, Hendrickson upset the champion of wrestling, Gable Steveson. Coach Taylor’s elite-level training gave Wyatt the final push he needed to dominate on the national stage. As Taylor himself said, Wyatt Hendrickson’s dedication and growth were off the charts.
Coach David Taylor said of Wyatt’s victory over Gable, “That was one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen in my entire life. That’s almost like surreal in the corner to think, ‘We have a chance here, right? We got a chance here.’ And Wyatt came over, and I said, ‘Go get it,’ you know? (Think about Dean Hamiti) beating two separate national champions to win, right? Wyatt beat two separate national champions to win. I think that’s our staff, all of everybody in our program, and the things that we’re trying to do.” But what has David Taylor achieved in his career?
David Taylor, affectionately known as the “Magic Man,” has carved out a legendary path in the world of wrestling. His journey began at St. Paris Graham High School in Ohio, where he amassed an astonishing 180-2 record and clinched four consecutive state titles. This early dominance set the stage for a stellar collegiate career at Penn State, where Taylor became a two-time NCAA champion and a four-time finalist. He even secured the prestigious Dan Hodge Trophy twice, recognizing him as the nation’s most dominant wrestler. Transitioning to the international arena, he continued his ascent by capturing an Olympic gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Taylor even earned three World Championship titles.
In 2024, Taylor shifted gears from athlete to mentor, taking the helm as head coach of Oklahoma State University’s wrestling program. In his inaugural season, he led the Cowboys to a remarkable 13-1 dual meet record. Also secured the Big 12 Conference title and achieved a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Not only this, but also had six All-Americans and two individual national champions. Taylor’s seamless transition from elite competitor to inspirational coach underscores his profound impact on the sport. He now channels his passion and experience into developing the next generation of wrestling champions.
From Newton High to the Air Force Academy to Oklahoma State—Wyatt Hendrickson’s path was paved by hard work, discipline, and coaches who saw greatness before the world did. They didn’t just shape a champion. They helped create a legacy.
The post Who Are Wyatt Hendrickson’s Coaches? Meet the Mentors Who Stood Behind the Wrestler Who Gained Donald Trump’s Attention appeared first on EssentiallySports.
