Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson and Dean Hamiti Jr. Capture Individual Titles at 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Wyatt Hendrickson and Dean Hamiti Jr. of Oklahoma State made history Saturday night at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships. Hendrickson delivered one of the most stunning upsets in NCAA history, defeating Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to claim the heavyweight title. Meanwhile, Hamiti pulled off his own upset, toppling two-time national champion Keegan O'Toole to win the crown at 174 pounds.

The Cowboys finished third in the team standings with 102.5 points, marking their best finish since 2021 and highest point total since 2017. OSU’s two individual titles represent its most since 2016.

“Finishing in third place is pretty special because it’s not just about the individuals,” said head coach David Taylor. “It’s a team effort. Obviously, those guys help you win, but you need everyone contributing.”

Steveson entered the finals as the heavy favorite, holding an Olympic gold medal, two Hodge Trophies, and multiple NCAA titles. He was seeking one more victory to complete an undefeated collegiate career. Hendrickson, however, came in undefeated this season and was making his first appearance in an NCAA final.

In a thrilling, down-to-the-wire match, Steveson secured a takedown in the first period. Hendrickson responded with two escapes in the second period to narrow Steveson’s lead to 3-2 entering the final frame. Steveson escaped to extend his lead to 4-2, but with time running out, Hendrickson managed to get to Steveson's leg and completed a takedown with less than 20 seconds left. The crowd erupted as Hendrickson held Steveson down to secure a 5-4 victory and the most unforgettable moment of the 2025 wrestling season.

“I was looking at the clock and squeezing him,” Hendrickson said of holding Steveson down in the final 18 seconds. “I made up my mind—if he stands up, I’m just going to lock him and hold him in the air for the last few seconds because I knew I was going to win. I didn't care if I had to rip my arms off, I was going to win that match.”

Hamiti also stunned the crowd, defeating Missouri's top-seeded, undefeated, five-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Keegan O'Toole in sudden victory. The match was tied 1-1 at the end of regulation after both wrestlers escaped in the second and third periods. In overtime, Hamiti won a scramble to finish on top, securing a 4-1 victory and his first NCAA championship.

“It was just instinct,” Hamiti said. “I didn’t really think about anything. I’m comfortable in those positions, and it was all instinct for me.”

Troy Spratley, competing in the 125-pound final, nearly completed a perfect tournament run as the seventh seed. However, he fell short in a tiebreaker, losing 2-1 to Vincent Robinson of NC State for a runner-up finish. Spratley finished his sophomore season with a 24-5 record, including 13 bonus-point wins, a 15-5 record against ranked opponents, and two wins over top-two wrestlers.

Oklahoma State now boasts 145 NCAA champions and 492 All-Americans, both of which are the most in NCAA history. In 93 national tournament appearances, OSU has finished among the top three 63 times and has won 34 team national titles—the most of any program in any sport.

2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships

March 22, 2025 | Wells Fargo Center | Philadelphia, Pa.

Session VI (Saturday Night) | Attendance: 18,826

Final Team Standings (Top 10)

1. Penn State - 177.0
2. Nebraska - 117.0
3. Oklahoma State - 102.5
4. Iowa - 81.0
5. Minnesota - 51.5
6. Ohio State - 51.5
7. Cornell - 50.0
8. NC State - 46.5
9. Northern Iowa - 45.5
10. Illinois - 44.5

Finals

125: No. 4 Vincent Robinson (NCST) def. No. 7 Troy Spratley (OSU), TB-1 2-1

174: No. 3 Dean Hamiti Jr. (OSU) def. No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (MIZZ), SV-1 4-1

HWT: No. 2 Wyatt Hendrickson (OSU) def. No. 1 Gable Steveson (MINN), 5-4