Recall the enthusiasm of David Taylor as he expressed, “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 they ‘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 beating 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.” What is the reason behind this response?
This announcement followed closely on the heels of wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson’s victory over Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, as he clinched the heavyweight NCAA title. This moment was significant, and Taylor consistently held great expectations for his wrestlers, particularly Hendrickson. In the 2024–25 wrestling season, Hendrickson made the move from the Air Force Academy to Oklahoma State University, marking his final year of eligibility.
In the heavyweight division, he maintained an impressive undefeated record of 27-0. The triumph over Steveson is regarded as one of the most remarkable upsets in the annals of NCAA wrestling history. In light of this accomplishment, Hendrickson received the Dan Hodge Trophy, an honor that distinguishes him as the premier collegiate wrestler in the country. Following a remarkable journey of achievements, Hendrickson has chosen to channel this success towards Taylor.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the NCAA champion remarked, “The very first text he ever sent me, very first text he ever sent me. Obviously, we had a talk and he was like, ‘Hey, I want you to come to Oklahoma state.’ You know, and right after that, the first text he started sending me was just ‘Wyatt Hendrickson, 2025 national champion, national champion all the time.’ So I mean, just having that, you know, just kind of, you know, it kind of manifested the path and just keeping that goal in mind throughout the entire season was, it was a big deal because you’re going to have days where you’re beat up, you’re hurt, you know, your knees tweaked.”
From the very first day at the Oklahoma State camp, it was made clear to Hendrickson what he had signed up for. Taylor envisioned him as a champion, and in the end, he realized that ambition. Despite facing numerous challenges, the wrestler maintained his focus by adhering to the mindset instilled in him by his coach during their training sessions.
“And, but I mean, to be the national champion, you got to work through those days and having coach Taylor there to kind of remind me of those, on those hard days, it made a big difference because it kind of changed my mentality. Some days I was like, you know, I couldn’t, I was like, I don’t know what to do. And they’re like, ‘Hey, you can get, you can get stressed out or you can adapt,’” Hendrickson remarked.
Whatever Taylor observed in his wrestlers was clearly evident on the mat. Additionally, each of these performances helped the Cowboys outperform their rivals in the standings.
Wyatt Hendrickson and the team brought glory to David Taylor
Upon his arrival at OKSU, David Taylor was fully aware of the commitment he was undertaking. He arrived just as the iconic John Smith stepped down after an impressive 33-season tenure as the head coach of the Cowboys. Taylor stepped up to the challenge, and while the season may not have been flawless, the Olympic champion certainly gave it his all.
In the 2024–25 NCAA wrestling season, Oklahoma State University achieved a notable 102.5 points at the NCAA Championships, ultimately claiming a third-place finish in the team standings. This accomplishment was driven by exceptional performances, particularly from Wyatt Hendrickson and Dean Hamiti Jr., who both secured individual national championships.
Hendrickson pulled off an astonishing upset against Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to claim victory in the heavyweight division, while Hamiti secured a win over two-time national champion Keegan O’Toole in the 174lbs category. Troy Spratley also achieved a notable runner-up finish at 125lbs, playing a crucial role in boosting the team’s overall point total.
The Cowboys’ overall performance, highlighted by significant victories and steady placements across weight classes, emphasized their competitive strength and depth throughout the tournament. As we look ahead, Taylor will anticipate nothing short of excellence in the upcoming season.
The post NCAA Champion Wyatt Hendrickson Reveals How David Taylor Fixed Him appeared first on EssentiallySports.
