Takedown Report

Repeat Schalles winner Hendrickson is close to winning it all

By Mike Finn

Wyatt Hendrickson came up short in accomplishing his biggest goal of the 2022-23 college season — winning a national championship in Tulsa on March 17 — when the Air Force heavyweight lost 4-2 in the semifinals to Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet.

So how did the No. 2 seed Falcon junior respond to such the loss in the BOK Center? Hendrickson responded by pinning both Northwestern’s Lucas Davison and Iowa’s Anthony Cassioppi in his consolation bouts for a third-place honor and his first All-American honor.

It was fitting; not so much that he was taking his frustration out against the Wildcat and Hawkeye for missing out on a shot at the finals, but rather reminding fans of his abilities at the 2022 Schalles winner.

This story appeared in the April 28 issue of WIN Magazine. Click on the cover or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe.

And this season was no different when Hendrickson once again led the NCAA with 17 pins in a 31-2 campaign; three of which happened in Tulsa, including a first-round fall against Cal Poly’s Trevor Tinker to go along with two major decisions in the NCAAs.

Hendrickson became the sixth collegiate wrestler in 25 years to win consecutive Schalles awards, the honor named after the sport’s most historic pinner.

“There are pinners and there are those who pin. Wyatt is the former,” said Schalles, the award’s namesake who set the college pin record at Clarion (Pa.) State where he also won two NCAA championships (1972-73). During his career, Schalles defeated 153 of 159 opponents and pinned 109.

“It’s just my aggressive wrestling style,” said Hendrickson. “It doesn’t matter if I’m winning by one point or winning by 10, I will not stop attacking and I think people kind of know that.”

“When you watch Wyatt wrestle, you can almost see the wheels turning and asking; ‘How can I put this guy on his back?’” added Schalles. “He’s so good at it that by the end of next season, he might very well be the first three-time Schalles Award winner. I don’t think Vegas is betting against that happening.”

Hendrickson, who has 42 career falls and an 87-11 record over the past three years, would love to collect a third Schalles after winning an NCAA title next March when the 2024 NCAAs are held in Kansas City, Mo.; just 182 miles from his hometown of Newton, Kan.

“It’s very special that no one has to worry about buying all their flights,” said Hendrickson, who was a two-time Kansas state champ and three-time finalist for Newton High. “They can just you know, get in the car and drive a little bit. Come support their good ol’ big ol’ heavyweight wrestler.” … rest of story at https://www.win-magazine.com/2023/05/01/25297/

June 11, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized