Friday, March 19
St. Louis, Mo.
Session III (9 a.m. MT) Session IV (6 p.m. MT
Air Force Academy
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Sam Janicki
Hendrickson Finishes One Win Shy of Podium Finish at 2021 NCAA Championships
3/19/2021 9:11:00 PM | Wrestling
The freshman finished his rookie season with a 16-5 record
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Air Force Academy wrestling team wrapped up action at the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships Friday evening, March 19, at the Enterprise Center. Freshman heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson concluded his tournament one win shy of a podium finish, falling in the "bloodround."
Hendrickson, who was AF's first freshman qualifier since 2013, became the first AF wrestler to reach the vaunted Round of 12 since Cole VonOhlen, also in 2013. Hendrickson finishes his first season in the Blue and Silver with a solid 16-5 record, including 11 of those wins via bonus points (three MD, one TF, seven pins).
Hendrickson began his day in consolation round two with a matchup against #18 Hunter Catka of Virginia Tech. As he has all season long, Hendrickson racked up the bonus points, winning via 14-6 major decision to get to the third round of consolations.
In the third round of consis, he matched up with #8 seeded and reigning All-American Jordan Wood of Lehigh. Hendrickson raced out to an early 6-0 lead and kept it 6-2 into the third. Despite giving up some points, Hendrickson held on for the thrilling 7-6 victory to advance into the vaunted "bloodround" against #14 Trent Hillger, another returning AA.
The match began scoreless after the first period, and was knotted at 1-1 into the third. In the third, he was reversed and after an escape was taken down, eventually leading to a 6-3 decision defeat, and ending his impressive rookie campaign.
Elsewhere on the day, junior Jared Van Vleet also began his day in the second round of consolations, and he also claimed victory with a tight 4-3 decision win over #22 Mario Guillen of Ohio. He then re-matched for the third time this season against #14 Zach Price of South Dakota State. Van Vleet battled hard, but ultimately fell to the Jackrabbit by 8-4 final, ending his solid junior season one round shy of the "bloodround."
The Falcons wrapped up the 2021 tournament with six team points to place 41st out of a field of 63 teams. On the season, AF finished with its first dual win over a ranked opponent since 2002, it's most NCAA qualifiers since 2014, and it's best individual finish at NCAAs since 2013.
FULL RESULTS
133 - #21 Jared Van Vleet (2-2)
Champ. Rd. 1: L to #12 Jarrett Trombley (NC State) (Dec 3-2)
Consi Rd. 1: W over #28 Ty Smith (Utah Valley) (Dec 4-1)
Consi Rd. 2: W over #22 Mario Guillen (Ohio) (Dec 4-3)
Consi Rd. 3: L to #14 Zach Price (South Dakota State) (Dec 8-4)
174 - #25 Cody Surratt (0-2)
Champ. Rd. 1: L to #8 Daniel Bullard (NC State) (Dec 4-0)
Consi Rd. 1: L to #24 Jake Allar (Minnesota) (Pin 5:56)
HWT - #17 Wyatt Hendrickson (3-2)
Champ. Rd. 1: W over #16 Luke Luffman (Illinois) (Pin 2:12)
Champ. Rd. 2: L to #1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota) (TF 17-2)
Consi Rd. 2: W over #18 Hunter Catka (Virginia Tech) (MD 14-6)
Consi Rd. 3: W over #8 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) (Dec 7-6)
Bloodround: L to #14 Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) (Dec 6-3)
Hendrickson, who was AF's first freshman qualifier since 2013, became the first AF wrestler to reach the vaunted Round of 12 since Cole VonOhlen, also in 2013. Hendrickson finishes his first season in the Blue and Silver with a solid 16-5 record, including 11 of those wins via bonus points (three MD, one TF, seven pins).
Hendrickson began his day in consolation round two with a matchup against #18 Hunter Catka of Virginia Tech. As he has all season long, Hendrickson racked up the bonus points, winning via 14-6 major decision to get to the third round of consolations.
In the third round of consis, he matched up with #8 seeded and reigning All-American Jordan Wood of Lehigh. Hendrickson raced out to an early 6-0 lead and kept it 6-2 into the third. Despite giving up some points, Hendrickson held on for the thrilling 7-6 victory to advance into the vaunted "bloodround" against #14 Trent Hillger, another returning AA.
The match began scoreless after the first period, and was knotted at 1-1 into the third. In the third, he was reversed and after an escape was taken down, eventually leading to a 6-3 decision defeat, and ending his impressive rookie campaign.
Elsewhere on the day, junior Jared Van Vleet also began his day in the second round of consolations, and he also claimed victory with a tight 4-3 decision win over #22 Mario Guillen of Ohio. He then re-matched for the third time this season against #14 Zach Price of South Dakota State. Van Vleet battled hard, but ultimately fell to the Jackrabbit by 8-4 final, ending his solid junior season one round shy of the "bloodround."
The Falcons wrapped up the 2021 tournament with six team points to place 41st out of a field of 63 teams. On the season, AF finished with its first dual win over a ranked opponent since 2002, it's most NCAA qualifiers since 2014, and it's best individual finish at NCAAs since 2013.
FULL RESULTS
133 - #21 Jared Van Vleet (2-2)
Champ. Rd. 1: L to #12 Jarrett Trombley (NC State) (Dec 3-2)
Consi Rd. 1: W over #28 Ty Smith (Utah Valley) (Dec 4-1)
Consi Rd. 2: W over #22 Mario Guillen (Ohio) (Dec 4-3)
Consi Rd. 3: L to #14 Zach Price (South Dakota State) (Dec 8-4)
174 - #25 Cody Surratt (0-2)
Champ. Rd. 1: L to #8 Daniel Bullard (NC State) (Dec 4-0)
Consi Rd. 1: L to #24 Jake Allar (Minnesota) (Pin 5:56)
HWT - #17 Wyatt Hendrickson (3-2)
Champ. Rd. 1: W over #16 Luke Luffman (Illinois) (Pin 2:12)
Champ. Rd. 2: L to #1 Gable Steveson (Minnesota) (TF 17-2)
Consi Rd. 2: W over #18 Hunter Catka (Virginia Tech) (MD 14-6)
Consi Rd. 3: W over #8 Jordan Wood (Lehigh) (Dec 7-6)
Bloodround: L to #14 Trent Hillger (Wisconsin) (Dec 6-3)
Players Mentioned
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Sam Barber Interview March 12, 2025
Wednesday, March 12
Sam Barber Interview March 5, 2025
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