Raging Heavyweight

 

By Robbert Wijtman

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Heavyweight freestyle wrestler, Wyatt Hendrickson, rages in on a blast double

leg take-down. The match - second in a best of three series - was part of the

Final X event. Held in Newark, New Jersey, on June 15, 2025, it was the final

cross between the winners of the US Open and the World Team Trials.

A USA national team spot at the 125Kg weight class was in contention.

Hendrickson had won the first match, by tech-fall, (10-0). His opponent, Trent

Hilger, had just thrown Hendrickson for 5 points with a grand amplitude throw,

directly to danger. Hilger was leading the match by two points, at that point.

 

The suplex, seemed to enrage the bigger man. Hendrickson had

never been tossed for 5 points before. It showed in the emotion on his face. Hendrickson's

raging blast double was followed with three powerful gut wrenches for two points each. The emotion shown was clear - You Don't Do That To Me!

Hilger was unable to regain the lead after the ten points scored by Hendrickson in the exchange. Wyatt Hendrickson went on to win the match 20-14 and a position on

the 2025 USA Men's Free-Style Wrestling National Team.

 

The two big-men have battled twice before, each winning one. Hendrickson defeated Hilger by the score of 10-4 in the US Open semifinals last April. They also met at the 2021 NCAA Championships, where Hilger bested Hendrickson 6-3, in the 6th round.

The match exposed weaknesses on both wrestlers part. Hilger was unable to score in par tare. All of his points coming from take-downs, throws, or a push-out, Hendrickson showed himself to be exposed for a hi-C take-down as Hilger was able to score 5 times with the move during the match.

The journey of the two heavyweights to the Final X championships followed different paths.

Wyatt Hendrickson buried the field at the US Open. He won all four of his matches by double-digits.

Trent Hilger had a fifth-place finish at the Open. He came back and won the Team Trials. It was thought that a small bracket may have helped Hilger as he only had two bouts. Hilger won them both.

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Trent Hilger showed that he deserved to be on the stage at the Final X. The 5 point throw of the bigger man demonstrated that. He further showed a crack in Wyatt Hendrickson's defense. If he had a developed par tare offense, he may

well have sent the 2 out of 3 series to the third match.

 

Hendrickson and Hilger are, both, relatively young for their sport and weight class. They will wrestle

again.

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Pictorial of the second match between Hendricson and Hilger at 125Kg Final X