Being Gable Steveson? That’s a big deal. Replacing him? Even bigger. Since returning for his fifth and final NCAA season in November 2024, Steveson’s been a walking legend. With an Olympic redshirt and an extra COVID-19 waiver year, he had one last chance to shine and he’s made the most of it. Every wrestler who’s faced him probably knew they were in for a rough ride—and honestly, who wouldn’t? This guy’s an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time NCAA heavyweight champ, and a two-time Hodge Trophy winner, which basically means he is the best in college wrestling. But his hegemony won’t go unchallenged for long.

With the NCAA season winding down, Steveson’s days with the University of Minnesota are almost over. And that leaves one big question: Who’s stepping up to fill those massive shoes and keep the Gophers on top? Well, the word is, there’s someone ready to take that challenge head-on.

Gable Steveson’s legacy lives on…

March 9 was a big day for the Gophers, but the real headline? Freshman Max McEnelly is making serious noise. He’s not just competing—he’s dominating. McEnelly joined Gable Steveson and Vance VomBaur in punching his ticket to the Big Ten Championship finals. This isn’t some overnight success story either—McEnelly’s already a four-time Minnesota state champion from Waconia High School in different weight classes and now he’s proving he can thrive on the big stage too. And you know what? He’s not just impressing—he’s earning respect. Well, now it’s official: Max McEnelly is the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Safe to say, the Gophers’ future looks locked and loaded. But there is something he had to forego in the pursuit of excellence on the mat.

The progress of the redshirt freshman in wrestling led him to abandon his dreams of playing football. The development of his wrestling career shaped McEnelly’s choices because of his phenomenal performance at the U17 Wrestling Championships in 2022 that earned him bronze. Despite his wrestling prospects looking better than ever, the Minnesota freshman didn’t abandon his team mid-season. He stuck around for the final season, honoring his commitment to the team. But later on, wrestling took precedence, after all his sight on the mat exuded nothing but brilliance!

Even Gable Steveson knows Max McEnelly has serious potential—and he’s not shy about saying it. The Olympic gold medalist recently shared some advice for his young teammate, recognizing McEnelly’s impressive rise. “Max, I mean just how impressive is he? Man, he’s getting it done,” Steveson said. “He’s got a long way to go, but I think if he keeps putting pieces together, he’s going to be what Minnesota needs after me. Someone’s got to step up and be that face, and I think he’s got it in him.” To earn the validation of the undefeated Gable Steveson was a big deal for the young wrestler and what’s more, the Gophers star also gave him some wisdom that McEnelly will surely find useful going forward in his wrestling career.

 “You’re going to go through some trials and tribulations, but you’ve got to get through it, keep moving forward, and be the man that you want to be,” he said. “And it’s not just about yourself at that point; when you get to that point, it’s about leading this team to have that next person follow after you.” Did Gable Steveson just trust Max McEnelly with the future of the Minnesota Gophers? Well, it certainly looks like it!

The freshman considers this advice significant because he wants to build a lasting legacy that will energize upcoming Gophers to maintain the athletic tradition. Let’s just say, with Gable Steveson himself chiming in to vouch for McEnelly’s prowess on the mat, the budding wrestler will invite constant comparisons with the 24-year-old wrestling legend. If it’s Steveson he has to match, Max McEnelly better get to work soon because the 24-year-old is a tough role model to emulate. His list of accolades only seem to get longer everyday!

Steveson makes history as the first four-time Big Ten heavyweight champion

Recently, Gable Steveson added another prestigious achievement when he secured his first-ever four-title Big Ten heavyweight championship with effortless ease. Steveson secured a 10-3 victory against Kerkvliet at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships in Evanston, Illinois by triumphing in a matchup between two undefeated heavyweights. Takedowns in every period? Check. He controlled every aspect of the competition from the beginning to the end of the match. Yep. His undefeated Olympic gold medal triumph continues throughout the entire season with a remarkable 66-match victory record. Dominance like that? Unreal.

During this tournament, the Gophers secured fourth position with 108.5 points behind Iowa, Nebraska, and Penn State, who won their third Big Ten Conference title in a row. Freshman Max McEnelly showed strong competition by becoming Big Ten Freshman of the Year while placing runner-up at 184 pounds even though he suffered his first loss during his freshman season. The competition at 141 pounds saw Vance VomBaur win second place while Andrew Sparks (165), Isaiah Salazar (197), and Tommy Askey (157) placed within the top five.

Steveson has become the primary target for NCAA Championships observers because he joins seven already qualified Gophers who will compete while additional championship entries remain possible. The 24-year-old aims to take one last NCAA championship before finishing his spectacular athletic career. Will Max McEnelly be able to live up to the wrestling star’s unblemished reputation? Is he the right candidate to keep Minnesota Gophers’ illustrious legacy alive? That’s for time to tell.