David Taylor’s Latest Recruit Makes Honest Confession Behind Decision To Drop Alma Mater: “Standing Over My Own Guys”

A prominent wrestler, now 24-year-old from Kansas, USA, who has been a two-time NCAA All-American Champ in the Air Force Academy, famous for his freestyle wrestling and fighting style: Yes! We’re talking about none other than Wyatt Hendrickson, who has proven himself over and over through his performance and efforts.

Hendrickson initially thought his competitive career was coming towards its end at the 2024 NCAA Championships, as Service Academy rules do not allow a COVID-19 year, making him prepared to conclude his wrestling voyage. But destiny had other plans.

Just 20 minutes down the lane that seemingly looked like—never—coaches approached Wyatt Hendrickson with offers, lighting a new dream. A special exemption then allowed Hendrickson to defer his military service, opening the door for one final collegiate season, this time with Oklahoma State University (OSU).

To Hendrickson, it looked like a dream. After turning them down gently, the thought of traditional wrestling for the last time engulfed Wyatt, and he took the miraculous opportunity to join OSU under the shade of coach David Taylor, also called “The Magic Man,” beaming with both excitement and an unexpected emotional challenge along the way. In this new chapter, Wyatt Hendrickson may have to face his former Air Force counterparts in the competition, an idea that stirs up mixed feelings.

Wyatt Hendrickson boils it down to “it doesn’t really sit well with me”

Hendrickson grew up in Newton, Kansas, and with time he developed a deep admiration for Oklahoma State wrestling; its legacy, which is marked by 34 NCAA titles and a powerful wrestling culture, made it a natural fit. Hendrickson, as a kid, often attended OSU matches with his family, and it must be exhilarating to join the team he once looked up to—more like a long-awaited homecoming. As OSU’s first top-ranked heavyweight in years, he’s bound to make a significant impact.

For Wyatt Hendrickson’s final season, OSU’s new coaching setup, particularly under David Taylor, was key to Hendrickson’s decision. Taylor, an Olympic gold medalist in the 86 kg weight class at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has also earned two World Championship titles (2018 and 2022), engraving his global reputation. He began at Penn State, where he was a two-time NCAA champion, four-time finalist, and Hodge Trophy winner (the wrestling equivalent of the Heisman).

Taylor’s deep understanding of competitions, paired with his rigorous wrestling style, has made him a sought-after mentor; moreover, now as head coach at Oklahoma State, where he’s going to inspire and elevate elite wrestlers like Hendrickson.

Despite his enthusiasm, Wyatt Hendrickson is unsure about wrestling against his old buddies from the Air Force, the competition that OSU will host in the coming January in Gallagher-Iba Arena-Stillwater. Hendrickson, upon thinking about the potential match, says, “There’s no bad blood there at all, but if there’s pictures of me standing over my own guys and beating them, it doesn’t really sit well with me,” which clearly depicts his confidence and inner conflict of loyalty to the team he has spent years with, but he’s also committed to giving his all for OSU. His decision to wear OSU’s colors is as much a personal journey as a professional one, and his season promises to be memorable on multiple fronts.