Penn State Wrestling fans were far from pleased when Wyatt Hendrickson was awarded the 2025 Dan Hodge Trophy over newly crowned five-time National champion Carter Starocci. Starocci won his fifth NCAA title by winning the 184 lbs category while Hendrickson won 285 lbs at the NCAA Wrestling Championships last month.
The Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the nation’s best wrestler of the season, and while both wrestlers went undefeated through the season, Hendrickson won in what was the second-closest race in history. The former Air Force wrestler received 30 votes, while Starocci got 26.
While wrestling fans, in general, were divided over the deserving winner, Penn State fans were left infuriated, with one claiming that Starocci was robbed of the award, which would have been his first.
Bulls**t. A 5 time champion doesn’t get it?,” another fan wrote.
Penn State wrestling and football legends Bo Nickal and Micah Parsons also expressed their disappointment over Hendrickson’s win over Starocci.
“Can’t lie man congrats but I’m call bullshi# snubbing a undefeated 5 time national champion is so absurd! Do better ncaa wrestling,” Parsons wrote.
The Hodge Trophy should go to the BEST wrestler in the NCAA. I think Wyatt is an amazing, amazing wrestler and had an incredible moment that we will never forget. That being said Carter is the best wrestler in the NCAA. I don’t think the award has been given to the best wrestler of the year consistently and that’s all I really want. Whoever is the best should get it no matter what team or criteria,” Nickal said.
Here are a couple of more reactions from the Nittany Lions fans:
“Not only is Starocci the best wrestler in 2025. Carter would beat Hendrickson 10 out of 10 times. Not even close,” one user wrote.
“But starocci still has a higher win bonus percentage. Plus everyone knew Carter would win, no one thought Wyatt would- proves that Carter is the PFP best wrestler this year. Carter wrestling first and Wyatt wrestling last has a big factor too,” another fan argued.
Here are a couple of more reactions from the Nittany Lions fans:
“Not only is Starocci the best wrestler in 2025. Carter would beat Hendrickson 10 out of 10 times. Not even close,” one user wrote.
“But starocci still has a higher win bonus percentage. Plus everyone knew Carter would win, no one thought Wyatt would- proves that Carter is the PFP best wrestler this year. Carter wrestling first and Wyatt wrestling last has a big factor too,” another fan argued.
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