Wyatt Hendrickson’s Aims to Move One Step to Closer to World Title Dream with US Open Challenge

Few NCAA wrestlers had such a meteoric rise to fame as Wyatt Hendrickson did. The former Air Force grappler took the world by storm when he stopped the unstoppable force known as Gable Steveson to win the NCAA Heavyweight title. Yet while the highlight of the season was certainly Gable’s loss, Hendrickson has been anything but sensational in his own right. But with collegiate success finally in his bag, Wyatt Hendrickson isn’t done just yet. But what’s next for him? What more can he covet?

Well, national glory, of course. We all know just how much Captain America wants to wrestle for his country. And coming up next week at the Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, he will have his chance. Why? Because the spectacle known as the 2025 CLAW US Open is finally about to start. Participating from all over the country will be the best wrestlers in the 2025 US Men’s Freestyle Senior Nationals.

But why is this important? Well, this will be the very first hurdle that the upcoming athletes will need to overcome to get into the mix for the Los Angeles Olympics 2028. From all the different weight classes, a total of the top 10 or the Final X will be chosen, who will advance to the next round. And this will take Hendrickson closer to his world title dream. And quite expectedly, Wyatt Hendrickson cannot wait to get his name featured in the Final X. 

However, things will not be that easy for Hendrickson. For competing in the 125 kg division, the main challenge for him to overcome would be that of Hayden Zillmer. A 2x US Open champion and a Senior National Team member, Zillmer is one of the top favorites to win the competition. After all, Zillmer is one of the very few talents who have excelled both in the Greco-Roman and the freestyle categories. 

Thus, Hendrickson will be pretty much wary of how he will handle the threat of Zillmer. But Hendrickson, too, will be a tough nut to crack for his opponents. Coming into the competition, Wyatt Hendrickson is carrying a significant bit of momentum. With his fiery form sweeping over the NCAA realm, the 125 kg division can once again witness some more upsets in the US Open.

Apart from these two athletes, some more names might pose a threat to Hendrickson’s Final X and world title ambitions. Jordan Wood, Christian Lance, Trent Hillger, Demetrius Thomas, and Nick Feldman are the ones who can pull off a surprise out of nowhere. However, a glance at how Wyatt Hendrickson used his fight IQ to get over the juggernaut named Gable Steveson will reveal the actual potential of the former Air Force star.

But while his zeal to represent his nation and his grit to be an Olympian are commendable, there is one more issue that is looming on the future of the Oklahoma State mat technician. And that something might have a bigger impact on his international ambitions than one might think.

When wrestling glory clashed with national duty, Wyatt Hendrickson decided to fight on two fronts

Now we all know that for Wyatt, glory on the wrestling mat is only one part of the mission. The NCAA heavyweight champion isn’t just chasing gold. Those who have followed him for quite some time now might know that he also aspires to be a pilot for the US Air Force. Why’s that? Well, because his grandfather was one as well. That dual pursuit, while powerful, comes with conflict. 

Hendrickson, who pulled off a stunning upset over Olympic champion Gable Steveson, isn’t just eyeing international wrestling success.  He’s also committed to serving his country, a responsibility that could shape him. And possibly limit his Olympic ambitions. Hendrickson’s five-year active-duty service commitment looms large. After wrapping up his career at the Air Force Academy, he could’ve been done with college wrestling.

But he leveraged a rare opportunity, enrollment in the World Class Athlete Program, a military initiative that lets elite athletes train full-time for the Olympics while deferring their service. That program gave him one more shot at NCAA glory—and potentially a clearer path to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. “Wrestling in college is a big deal… It’s going to help develop my wrestling,” Hendrickson said, explaining how he bargained with Air Force officials for a shot at Steveson and the rest of the NCAA’s best.

His time with Oklahoma State has pushed his development, but once Olympic training ends, military duty will call. Whether he can navigate both worlds long-term—serving and wrestling—remains the challenge that could define his legacy.

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