Hidlay claims title at Bill Farrell Memorial
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NEW YORK-- On Sunday at Manhattan's New York Athletic Club, Trent Hidlay announced himself as an Olympic contender.
The former Mifflin County standout and NC State 3x All-American claimed the 86kg freestyle title at the prestigious Bill Farrell Memorial Tournament, defeating a decorated field and earning a spot in the Olympic Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center April 19-20, 2024, the wrestling equivalent of getting a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
For Hidlay, it was an attention-grabbing performance. Battling under the bright lights of the cramped but venerated venue, he rose to the occasion and delivered a breakout showing.
"It was a really challenging tournament. Wrestling five high-level matches in one day is exhausting and takes a toll on you physically. I’m proud of the way I competed and thought I did some really gritty things in order to win some of my matches," Hidlay said. "I trusted in my training and conditioning and tried to let it fly as much as I could. It was exciting to lay it on the line and the experience was incredible."
The Bill Farrell Memorial has long been a proving ground for the nation's top Olympic hopefuls. The annual event offers a prime chance to test oneself against world-class competition.
This year, Hidlay passed the test with flying colors.
Last week, the Wolfpack senior, a whirlwind of force on the wrestling mat, bulldozed through former All-American Michael Beard of Lehigh, 12-3 at the Journeymen Classic. This was merely a prelude, a hint of the storm about to be unleashed in the Big Apple.
Starting strong in the round of 32, he showcased his tactical acumen with a decisive 5-2 victory over Taisei Matsuyuki of Japan. His technical prowess was unmissable as he swiftly secured a 10-0 tech fall over Canada's Ahmed Shamiya in a mere 1:52, setting the tone for the bouts to follow.
Hidlay faced Taylor Lujan in the quarterfinals, where he further solidified his march to the championship with a 4-1 victory.
The semifinals presented a more formidable challenge against former World Silver and Bronze Medalist Avtandil Kentchadze from Georgia.
Trailing 10-9 with eight seconds left on the clock, Hidlay pulled a move that was half Houdini, half Hercules. He executed a spectacular four-point throw, coupled with an additional point for driving Kentchadze off the mat, marking a stunning 14-10 comeback victory. You can't script this stuff.
"That was a wild match. My match with Kentchadze was special. If you watch the match, you are going to see two guys that were doing everything they could to keep fighting and trying to score points," Hidlay said. "Both of us were exhausted, but we kept coming back for more. I don’t think I really got to appreciate the match until afterwards when I was able to analyze it. He is someone that has one of the highest compete levels in the sport and being able to beat him shows me how good I can be."
The climax of this remarkable journey was the final against former three-time NCAA champ Alex Dieringer from Oklahoma State.
In what can only be described as a battle of Titans, third seed Hidlay and top seed Dieringer engaged in a fierce contest where points were hard to come by. The match was evidence of their power, skill, and tactical intelligence. It was a nail-biter, a chess match with muscles, ending with Hidlay eking out a 2-1 victory.
Trent opened up a 1-0 lead early in the first period with a step-out point. Dieringer followed suit to make it 1-1 after three minutes. Hidlay picked up a shot-clock point with 52 seconds to go after Dieringer was called for passivity and held on for the victory.
"The finals match with Dieringer was the complete opposite of my semifinals match. Tactical, low scoring, and lots of intense hand-fighting. He is one of the strongest people I have ever competed against and is super good with underhooks on the same side I like to use underhooks," Hidlay said. "The margin for error was so small, so I had to be super disciplined with my position and hand fight. I looked to be offensive in the second period and was rewarded with them putting him on the shot clock. It was important for me to keep position and finish the match out right and qualify for the Olympic trials."
Hidlay's approach to wrestling is noteworthy for its combination of intellectual and physical elements. He engages with physical prowess and tactical intelligence, foreseeing his opponent's strategies, adapting his tactics, and executing with impeccable timing.
He seems more comfortable, confident, and free on the mat with his move up to 197. More comfortable, more confident, and as free as a bird in the sky. This isn't a step up in weight; it's a leap into a whole new realm of dominance.
"It has been a great few weeks of competing. I’ve been training smarter and harder than I ever have and I think it is showing in my results. Mentally, I’m putting myself in a position to feel free and it’s allowing me to enjoy the sport even more," Hidlay said. "I put so much into my training that it gives me the confidence to expect to win every time I compete. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and making more gains each day. Constant improvement is what I’m after every day. Consistency and intention will help me jump another level this season."
Hidlay is a wrestling whirlwind. His opponents might as well be trying to grab hold of a tornado. A relaxed Hidlay is like a magician with an extra trick up his sleeve, a chess grandmaster seeing twelve moves ahead. He's not a wrestler; he's a force of nature, rewriting the rules one match at a time. Watch out, world-when Hidlay steps on the mat at 197, it's not a game anymore. It's a spectacle.