Dean Hamiti Jr.’s NCAA title run in 2025 was impressive on its own. But the story behind it made it all the more remarkable. Just one year ago, Hamiti didn’t even make the podium while wrestling for Wisconsin. Fast forward ten months under Oklahoma State’s new head coach David Taylor, and he’s not just a contender—he’s a national champion.

The dramatic turnaround didn’t go unnoticed. With critics aiming heat at Taylor following Oklahoma State’s overall showing, wrestling analyst Seth Duckworth fired back with a timely stat check. “If you want to try and analyze the David Taylor impact this season,” he posted on X, “Dean Hamiti didn’t make it on the podium last year at the NCAA Tournament at Wisconsin. Ten months with Taylor and he is a National Champ.”

That single stat—backed by Hamiti’s dominant title performance—quickly silenced trolls questioning Taylor’s coaching credentials. It wasn’t just about one athlete peaking at the right time; it was clear proof of Taylor’s coaching blueprint taking hold.

Taylor, a former Olympic gold medalist and Penn State legend, stepped into a high-pressure role at Oklahoma State. While the team continues to build toward broader success, Hamiti’s evolution is the clearest signal yet that the David Taylor era is already paying off.

Hendrickson, Hamiti win NCAA titles in thrilling upsets to cap off the debut season of David Taylor

Oklahoma State’s weekend in Philadelphia wasn’t just about proving a point—it was about building on the success of their regular season. Wyatt Hendrickson and Dean Hamiti Jr. delivered stunning performances to claim individual titles, while the Cowboys locked up their best team finish since 2021 with 102.5 points, under the guidance of David Taylor.

Hamiti’s title win came in dramatic fashion, as he upset Missouri’s top-seeded, undefeated, five-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion Keegan O’Toole. The bout went to sudden victory, where Hamiti finished a scramble to seal a 4-1 win—his first national title. Talk about winning in style.

“It was kind of just instinct,” Hamiti said. “I didn’t really think about anything in there. Just I go in those positions every day in practice with Coach Dave or Coach Caldwell. I’m comfortable in there. It was all instinct for me.”

But the biggest shock came in the heavyweight division. Hendrickson, in his first NCAA final, pulled off the unthinkable—beating Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson. With less than 20 seconds left, Hendrickson secured a takedown to take a 5-4 lead and rode out the clock for one of the most unforgettable upsets in college wrestling history. David Taylor couldn’t ask for anything more: “I mean we’re not training to beat singular guys, we’re trying to be the best wrestler we can be.”

“I was looking at the clock and I’m squeezing him,” Hendrickson said. “I knew I was going to win this match. I don’t care if I had to rip my arms off squeezing him.” It was a match that was scheduled for the very end of the tournament in order to give Steveson—an Olympic gold medalist—the spotlight because of his broader appeal outside the college wrestling circuit. But anyone tuning in to watch Steveson was in for what was arguably the upset of the tournament.

With these two titles, Oklahoma State now boasts 145 NCAA champions and 492 All-Americans—both records in collegiate wrestling. David Taylor emphasized that their third-place team finish was a collective achievement: “It’s not an individual thing. It’s everybody.” Let’s not forget that this is David Taylor’s debut season; if he continues in this fashion, then Cowboys fans are in for a treat in the coming years.