Untouchable History, Undaunted Glory: Stories and Recap from the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Finals
🏆 Untouchable History, Undaunted Glory: Stories and Recap from the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Finals
The stage was set, the lights were hot, and the circle was sacred. Ten final bouts, twenty warriors, one chance at immortality. Rivalries reignited. Legends made. Underdogs rose. And the wrestling world witnessed a finals session that will be replayed in wrestling rooms for generations to come.
🤼♂️ The Heavyweight Main Event: Hendrickson Hits the Mat Like a Missile
No better place to start than the anchor match—the heavyweight championship.
In one corner: the returning titan, Gable Steveson. Olympic gold medalist. 2-time NCAA Champion. Now back after stints in the WWE and NFL, still undefeated.
In the other: Lieutenant Wyatt Hendrickson, USAF and Oklahoma State hammer, one of Coach David Taylor’s biggest portal pickups.
Steveson looked like a freight train on rails—until Hendrickson shot his shot with under 20 seconds left. A double-leg takedown heard around the country. Hendrickson rode out the period, got the hand raised, and walked off the mat saluting President Donald Trump, who was in the front row.
A finish for the ages. A takedown for the history books.
🐐 Carter Starocci Breaks the Mold — 5-Time NCAA Champ
We didn't start at 125 this year—and for good reason. When the chance to witness wrestling immortality is on the table, you open the night with it.
At 184 lbs, defending champ Carter Starocci bumped up to finish his career with a shot at five. His opponent: Parker Keckeisen, a grinder from Northern Iowa who had one goal—deny history.
But Starocci stayed true to form. Calm, clinical, and unscorable. He pulled out the win and officially became the first-ever 5-time NCAA Champion, all while maintaining a season-long bonus rate over 90%. Whether you love it or hate it—the record is real, raw, and legendary.
🦁 Penn State Puts On Another Clinic
While the rest of the country is trying to close the gap, Penn State Wrestling is still lapping the field.
All ten weight classes brought All-Americans back to Happy Valley. Two titles were claimed—Mitchell Mesenbrink (165) and Starocci (184)—as Coach Cael Sanderson claimed the team’s 13th national title and reset the points record again.
Programs like Iowa and Oklahoma State think they’re closing in. But right now, Penn State is still in a different weight class altogether.
🌽 Cornhusker Crush: Nebraska Makes a Statement
Raise your hand if you had Nebraska finishing second on your bracket board. Didn’t think so.
The Huskers stormed into Philly with fire and finished with 117 points, 7 All-Americans, and three finalists. Titles from Ridge Lovett (149) and Antrell Taylor (157) marked Nebraska’s first champs since Jordan Burroughs in 2011, and their first multi-title year since 1984.
Mark Manning’s white hair may have a few more grays, but this run showed that Big Red is back.
🇺🇸 Trump in the Stands — Spotlight on the Sport
Say what you want about it, but President Trump’s presence turned the NCAA Finals into a headline beyond the mat. Wrestling has fought for its survival on the Olympic stage—and moments like this help keep it in the national spotlight.
This wasn’t about politics. It was about putting butts in seats and eyes on the circle.
🔥 Dean Hamiti Puts O’Toole in Sudden Victory
They say you can’t funk your way out of every match. And at 174 pounds, we saw a big-time style clash in a rematch from the Big 12 finals.
Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole, the master of leg defense and two-time champ, faced off with Dean Hamiti, Wisconsin transfer turned Cowboy.
After two tight periods and scrambles galore, Hamiti hit the sudden victory winner, flipping the script and grabbing Oklahoma State’s first of two titles on the night.
📊 Final Team Standings (Top 10 Teams)
| 🏅 Rank | 🤼 Team | 📈 Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1️⃣ | Penn State | 177 |
| 2️⃣ | Nebraska | 117 |
| 3️⃣ | Oklahoma State | 102.5 |
| 4️⃣ | Iowa | 81 |
| 5️⃣ | Ohio State | 51.5 |
| 6️⃣ | Minnesota | 51.5 |
| 7️⃣ | Cornell | 50 |
| 8️⃣ | NC State | 46.5 |
| 9️⃣ | Northern Iowa | 45.5 |
| 🔟 | Illinois | 44.5 |
🥇 Individual Champions & Top 8 Placers by Weight Class
💥 Want the breakdown? From 125 to 285, every champ, every season story, every top-8 finisher is locked in.
🧠 Mat Recap Highlights
- 125: Vincent Robinson (NC State) grinds out a 2-1 win in a loaded bracket.
- 133: Lucas Byrd (Illinois) goes full tactician mode with a 3-2 thriller.
- 141: Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) puts on a takedown clinic.
- 149: Ridge Lovett (Nebraska) wins a chess match at 1-0.
- 157: Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) proves grit wins titles.
- 165: Mesenbrink (Penn State) shows the future is now.
- 174: Dean Hamiti (Oklahoma State) delivers revenge in OT.
- 184: Starocci rewrites history. Again.
- 197: Stephen Buchanan (Iowa) gets his moment in black and gold.
- 285: Hendrickson slays Gable and rides off a hero.
🏁 Final Whistle: A Night to Remember
From the roar of the crowd to the final whistle, the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships were everything the sport needed—and then some.
We crowned a 5-time champ, watched a military man upset an Olympic legend, and saw new contenders rise from the shadows.
And next season? The storylines are already writing themselves.
📣 Like what you read? Share this recap, tag us @FEOTBPod, and lock in for more wrestling coverage on The Far End of the Bench Presents — where we always respect the grind, the grit, and the greatness of the mat.
Jimmy Pallotto
Co-Host
Jimmy Pallotto - Co-Host, The Far End of the Bench
Born and raised in the heart of Colorado, Jimmy Pallotto is the passionate voice behind The Far End of the Bench. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Jimmy brings unparalleled energy, humor, and insight to the podcast, combining his deep-rooted love for the game with a sharp analytical edge. As a proud alumnus of Western Colorado University, where he majored in Communication Arts and Sociology, Jimmy’s background equips him to deliver thoughtful commentary and engage in meaningful discussions with fans and guests alike.
Jimmy’s love for sports extends beyond the mic. By day, he’s shaping young minds as a 7th-grade social studies teacher and multi-sport coach, mentoring athletes in wrestling and football. A dedicated coach and educator, Jimmy instills the same values of teamwork, leadership, and dedication in his students that he shares on the podcast.
When he's not in the classroom or recording episodes, Jimmy enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Carlye, their energetic Border Collie Boomer, and his close-knit family. Whether he's breaking down game-winning plays, sharing hilarious locker room stories, or diving deep into the latest sports controversies, Jimmy’s vibrant personality and authentic voice make him a fan favorite.
Catch Jimmy every week on The Far End of the Bench, where he and his co-host Niko Bryant tackle everything from Colorado sports to national headlines, bringing the sidelines to center stage.
2025 NCAA Wrestling Finals Set: Starocci, Steveson, and History on the Line
