The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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TRACKING THE PACK 16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER Trent Hidlay Earns Spot On U.S. Freestyle World Team Former NC State wrestler Trent Hid- lay defeated Josh Barr of Penn State at the Final X event on June 14 in Newark, N.J., earning a place on the U.S. Senior Freestyle World Team that will com- pete in September in the Senior World Championships. Hidlay, who advanced to Final X by winning the U.S. Open in Las Vegas in April, faced Barr in a best-of-three series for the right to compete at the Senior World Championships in the 92-kilogram class. The Lewistown, Pa., native swept his Nittany Lion opponent, winning 6-1 and 3-2. A two-time NCAA Tournament final- ist and four-time All-American, Hidlay became the second NC State wrestling alumnus to make the U.S. Senior Free- style World Team. Nick Gwiazdowski, a two-time NCAA heavyweight cham- pion during his time with the Pack, won bronze medals in 2017 and '18, and also competed in 2019 and '21. This year's Senior World Champion- ships are set to take place Sept. 13-21 in Zagreb, Croatia. — Matt Herb Bo Andrews Named Men's Golf Coach Bo Andrews, a Raleigh native who spent the past seven seasons at Tennes- see, was named NC State's new men's golf head coach on May 15. Andrews suc- ceeds Press McPhaul, who announced May 2 that he was planning to retire from college coaching at the end of the 2025 season. Andrews was an assistant coach for six years with the Volunteers before be- ing named associate head coach prior to the 2024-25 season. During his tenure in Knoxville, the Vols captured 11 team tournament championships and nine individual titles. His golfers earned All- SEC honors 11 times and All-America laurels on seven occasions. A three-time finalist for the Jan Strickland Outstanding Assistant Coach Award, which goes to the top assistant in college golf, Andrews helped Tennes- see qualify for the NCAA Regionals in all seven of his seasons with the program. It reached the NCAA Championships three times during that span — in 2021, '24 and '25. Andrews graduated from the Raven- scroft School in Raleigh and played col- legiate golf at Georgia Tech before begin- ning his coaching career as a volunteer assistant with the Yellow Jackets. He said he was "humbled and honored" to be named head coach of the Wolfpack. "This university has played such a meaningful role in my life, and it's a dream come true to return in this capac- ity," he said in a prepared statement. "I'm excited to build on the strong tradition of Wolfpack Golf and to lead a group of talented student-athletes with passion, integrity, and a commitment to excel- lence." McPhaul led the NC State men's golf program for eight seasons. A former Wolfpack golfer and assistant coach, McPhaul was lauded by athletics director Boo Corrigan as "not only a great coach, but a great leader of men and an integral part of our Wolfpack family." During his tenure, the Pack made six NCAA Regional appearances and twice reached the NCAA Championships. His golfers won 16 team tournament cham- pionships and 15 individual titles. — Matt Herb Pitching Duo Joins NC State Via Portal The NC State baseball team has landed a pair of transfer pitchers, earning com- mitments from Collins Black, formerly of Duke, and Ryder Garino, formerly of South Carolina. Both are rising sopho- more right-handers. Black allowed 9 runs on 11 hits with 18 strikeouts and 5 walks in 9.1 innings across eight appearances with the Blue Devils this past season. The Cary, N.C., native's stats are de- ceiving after he gave up 6 runs on 5 hits in two-thirds of an inning against Cincin- nati in his college debut. Following that game, Black turned in five consecutive scoreless outings, including three relief appearances in ACC play. He impressed with two scoreless frames and 3 strikeouts against California on March 7, while he also tossed a perfect inning with 2 strike- outs against NC State on March 29. With his rough debut removed, Black tossed 8.2 innings in which he gave up 6 hits with 18 strikeouts and 4 walks, com- piling a 3.12 ERA in his final seven appear- ances at Duke. Garino made 16 appearances for South Carolina during the 2025 season. He pitched 24.2 innings, including one start, allowing 20 runs (16 earned) on 18 hits with 34 strikeouts and 13 walks en route to a 2-0 record and a 5.84 ERA. Opposing hitters batted just .205 against him. A Cherry Hill, N.J., native, Garino posted a season-best 5 strikeouts in three scoreless innings against Queens (N.C.) on Feb. 19 in his second collegiate appear- ance. He settled into a bullpen role with the Gamecocks, including five games with 4 or more strikeouts. The Pack also landed an infielder in late June, with LSU transfer Mikey Ryan choosing NC State. Used mainly as a de- fensive replacement, Ryan went 1 for 3 in 16 games for the Tigers this spring. He will have three years of eligibility remaining. — Noah Fleischman ■ RED AND WHITE NOTEBOOK After prevailing in the 92-kilogram weight class at Final X in June, Hidlay will compete at the Senior World Championships in Croatia in September. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS