Oklahoma State wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson saluted President Donald Trump after he accomplished his gorgeous upset on the NCAA championship on Saturday night time.
Hendrickson, a former Air Pressure wrestler and present second lieutenant, shared the patriotic second with the commander in chief — who sat mat-side — when he defeated Minnesota’s Gable Steveson 5-3 to clinch the Heavyweight title.
He rendered the salute because the packed crowd inside Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Middle chanted “USA, USA.”
Draped with an American flag, Hendrickson shook palms and shared a fast hug with the forty seventh president.
“He mentioned he was very happy with me,” the 24-year-old mentioned in his post-match interview with ESPN.
“He got here right here to assist his troops, I placed on a present for him, I wished that nationwide title,” the 24-year-old added.
The commander in chief arrived to a raucous crowd as he entered the world.
He was accompanied by DOGE chief Elon Musk and Home Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio).
“Commander in chief proper there child. I used to be actually excited to have him right here,” Hendrickson mentioned at his post-match press convention.
Hendrickson has competed beneath the nickname “Captain America” after his profitable 4 years on the Air Pressure Academy, the place he was named an All-American.
Unable to make use of his fifth 12 months of eligibility at Air Pressure, he requested permission from the service academy to switch for his “COVID 12 months” and later joined Oklahoma State’s wrestling program.
His remaining collegiate match pitted him towards Steveson, a two-time nationwide champion and the 2020 Olympic gold medalist within the males’s freestyle 125kg class.
The Indiana native was in charge of the match – main 3-2 with 25 seconds left – when Hendrickson modified the course of the bout.
The Cowboy obtained management of Steveson’s proper leg and hopped on high of him, pushing the 2 in direction of the sting of the mat.
Hendrickson was awarded a 3-point takedown and remained atop Steveson for the ultimate seconds.
Hendrickson, who’s an active-duty second lieutenant within the Air Pressure, isn’t pressured to move straight into navy service simply but.
The Air Pressure’s permission allowed Hendrickson to stay in Stillwater, OK after commencement and practice with Cowboy RTC to compete for a spot within the 2028 Olympics, based on Oklahoma State athletics weblog Pistols Firing.
When he retires from wrestling, Hendrickson will start his five-year obligatory dedication to the Air Pressure.
“I’m gonna make a profession out of the navy regardless,” Hendrickson mentioned. “That is simply a part of the journey for me.”
Supply hyperlink
