The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1481002
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 ■ 41 and I love the uniqueness of that, and knowing that I do some things that no- body else can do. And that there's a lot of things people do that I can't do." As for Hidlay's style, that is unmistak- able in both identity and results. After redshirting upon his arrival, he began dominating at the ACC level and quickly developed into a national title contender at the 184-pound weight class. He has won the past two ACC titles, and in 2021 Hidlay was the national runner-up. Hidlay repeated as an All-American at nationals last season, but with a fifth- place finish that left him disappointed. All along, he has stayed true to his form. That is to train as hard as anyone, if not harder, to prepare for his reward: the match. "When I get onto the mat, I try to wrestle with a feverish pace, like an in- sane person almost," Hidlay noted. "I want to be in your face. I want to make it really hard. I want to score a lot of points, and that's the way I train. That's the way I practice. "I want to be dominant." NC State head coach Pat Popolizio noted that Hidlay personifies the char- acter of Pack wrestling. "He's very blue collar, very hard- nosed, very disciplined — everything that we've been working on as far as our culture," Popolizio explained. "I think he defines it." Hidlay also has a little flair for the art of performing. He has occasionally bro- ken out an air guitar celebration, but the "raise the roof" gesture is his favorite. That came after a conversation while Hidlay was redshirting and watching a dual meet with his brother Hayden in the stands. "We realized no one was raising the roof, like people don't really do that anymore," Hidlay recalled. "I said next year I'm going to start bringing back raising the roof. "I did it a few times my redshirt freshman year, and I wouldn't say it gained traction until probably this past year. I love raising the roof, especially in Reynolds Coliseum." Hayden Hidlay was a star for the Wo l f p a c k b e fo re T re n t . H a yd e n wrapped up his collegiate eligibility this past year and is now working as a stu- dent-athlete development coordinator for Popolizio. Last year, Hayden moved up to 174 pounds, allowing the brothers to wres- tle back-to-back in the lineup. "I'm definitely going to miss it," Trent Hidlay admitted. "We've wrestled to- gether our whole lives, outside of two years, when he was here and I was still in high school. The memories that I made with him will be with me for a lifetime." Hayden Hidlay was part of a group of seniors who had been helping to lead Popolizio's program the past few years. Now it's Trent's turn to take that mantle. "He's by far been one of our biggest leaders since Day 1," Popolizio noted. "It's time for him to help groom some other guys, and we're working on that." That adds a new chapter to Hidlay's career at NC State, but the ultimate goal remains the same: an NCAA Tourna- ment title. However, perhaps following to some degree in his brother's foot- steps, Hidlay has developed a mature approach toward the national meet. "The hard part about college wres- tling is that you're graded on one week- end the whole year, and that's the NCAA Tournament," he said. "You can have a tremendous year, but if you don't wrestle to your potential at NCAAs, people don't really care. That's just the truth of it. "I'm at a place now where I know that I put everything I have into it. If I don't end up winning a tournament or reach- ing my goal, it's not going to be because of lack of effort." ■ " Trent's very blue collar, very hard-nosed, very disciplined — everything that we've been working on as far as our culture. I think he defines it. " Head Coach Pat Popolizio