Miracle on the Mat: Hendrickson’s Faith-Driven Journey to NCAA Glory
Sometimes, sports give us more than just a win or a loss—they give us a story that resonates on a deeper level. That’s exactly what happened at the NCAA wrestling championships when Oklahoma State University’s Wyatt Hendrickson shocked the world.
As reported by The Blaze, Hendrickson, a United States Air Force second lieutenant and a humble young man of faith, did the unthinkable. He took down Gable Steveson—Olympic gold medalist, two-time national champion and a dominant force on the mat with a 70-match winning streak—in what’s being called “the biggest upset in collegiate wrestling history.”
With just 23 seconds left, Hendrickson was down by two points. Then came the takedown. A final score of 5-4, and just like that, the mighty had fallen. The crowd was stunned—but the celebration was just getting started.
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What followed made the moment even more memorable. Hendrickson stood up, pointed to President Donald Trump and saluted him. Then he walked straight over, shook the president’s hand and embraced him in a hug.
“He said he’s very proud of me,” Hendrickson later told ESPN. “That’s my commander-in-chief; I’m very proud of that. He came here to support his troops; I put on a show for him and I won that national title.”
But it wasn’t just about wrestling or politics. For Hendrickson, his victory was soaked in faith and divine providence. At the post-match press conference, he gave thanks not just to his family but to the One who strengthened him: “my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for blessing me.”
Reflecting on the final moments of the match, Hendrickson said, “In that last shot, I was in on that leg and there was a little extra push behind me to get that takedown. I don’t think that was by chance.”
Earlier that week, at church, Hendrickson had listened to a sermon on David and Goliath. He carried that message with him onto the mat: “David had a vision of victory before he stepped on the mat… Even though he went after Goliath and everyone was like, ‘This can’t be done,’ he had a mind of a champion.” Hendrickson knew that the real battle was in the mind and the heart—where faith is forged.
This wasn’t just a sports victory—it was a powerful testament to what faith, humility and courage can accomplish. In front of a nation, a wrestler glorified God, honored his president and proved that giants can fall.
We live in a world that’s desperate for stories of hope and grit, Wyatt Hendrickson gave us one for the ages—and he made sure the name of Jesus was glorified in the process.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
