Penn State wrestlers Starocci, Mesenbrink fall short in historic Hodge Trophy race

Penn State wrestling did not have one of its two finalists win the Dan Hodge Trophy this season. That honor will go to Oklahoma State heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson, who wins the award in his final year of college wrestling.

The results were announced on Monday afternoon by WIN Magazine on FloWrestling Radio Live. Hendrickson capped off a perfect 27-0 season by defeating two-time NCAA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson 4-3 at the NCAA Finals, a match many are calling the biggest upset in college wrestling history. Hendrickson finished the year with an 81.48% bonus and had 12 pins and three tech falls.

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The Cowboys heavyweight beat out a pair of finalists from the Penn State wrestling program, Carter Starocci and Mitchell Mesenbrink. Both Nittany Lions finished the season undefeated and won the national championship in their respective weight classes. In the second-closest race in Hodge Trophy history, Hendrickson received 30 first place votes, Starocci received 26, and Mesenbrink received three. Hendrickson won the fan vote with 48% of the tallies. 

The Hodge Trophy is awarded based on seven criteria: record, number of pins, dominance, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship/citizenship, and heart. The award’s voting committee includes past Hodge winners, national media members, retired college coaches from each region of the country, and a representative of each national wrestling organization. 

After Aaron Brooks took home the award last season, Penn State wrestling has produced five different wrestlers who have won the Hodge Trophy seven times, the most of any program in the country.

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