Submitted photo Trent Hidlay competes in Newark, New Jersey during the Final X event over the weekend.

NEWARK, NJ – Under the bright lights of the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, Trent Hidlay stepped onto wrestling’s biggest domestic stage with the weight of Mifflin County behind him.

Final X is where America’s best collide, the last stop before the World Championships, and on Saturday night, Hidlay made it his own–winning two bruising matches, earning a coveted spot on the U.S. Senior World Team, and delivering a moment that resonated far beyond his hometown.

When the final whistle blew, Hidlay stood victorious, sweat-soaked and emotional, his hand raised after defeating Josh Barr in consecutive matches to earn a spot on the U.S. Senior World Team at 92 kg.

“Making the Senior World team is a little surreal, but I freaking earned it. I earned it. “I wrestled really hard,” Hidlay said moments after his victory, his voice still carrying the adrenaline of battle.

For Hidlay, this victory represented more than two wins on a Saturday in New Jersey. It marked the culmination of years of near-misses, of being the bridesmaid but never the bride in wrestling’s biggest moments.

“I feel like my career, I’ve had a lot of close calls, been close for a long time, won big matches, and wrestled legends of the sport,” Hidlay reflected. “I feel like at 92, I gave myself an opportunity to make a world team and knew I was a favorite.”

Favorite or not, Hidlay had to earn his victories against a scrappy Barr. In the opening match, Hidlay used his bread-and-butter approach – tough hand-fighting, relentless pressure, and perfectly timed attacks – to secure a 6-1 decision. After gaining a 1-0 lead via passivity in the first period, Hidlay broke open the match in the second with an ankle pick from his signature underhook position and later added a pancake throw to seal the win.

The second match proved tighter, with Hidlay holding on for a 3-2 victory built mostly on tactical awareness and forcing step-outs. A one-point difference, held by focus when oxygen is the only thing getting thin. The win secured his 2-0 sweep in the best-of-three series and punched his ticket to Zagreb, Croatia, for the World Championships in September.

Things got a little chippy in the two matches, with both wrestlers pushing and shoving after the whistle. If the wrestling was tight, the respect was tighter. Hidlay didn’t spin up any animosity; he called Barr “super tough” and credited the match as pure “scrap.” The physicality was real. Arms tangled, heads pressed, both men looking to impose.

“If you get two guys that really love wrestling, you’re bound to have those scraps. A lot of respect for him,” Hidlay said.

For those who have followed Hidlay through his career at Mifflin County High School and NC State, this moment represents the next logical step for one of the area’s greatest wrestling products. But the path wasn’t always clear.

“I’ve invested so much into doing the right things and working really hard that when it gets hard out there, make it harder,” Hidlay said, revealing the mindset that’s carried him through countless training sessions away from the spotlight.

The Final X victory holds special significance for Hidlay, who has tasted heartbreak on collegiate wrestling’s biggest stages against Penn State wrestlers. His opponent, Barr, represented another chance to overcome that hurdle.

“Coming up short against Penn State so many times, it feels good to beat him, man,” Hidlay admitted. “I’ve had so many of my dreams crushed by, you know, (Aaron) Brooks again last year, and it feels good to get one.”

The matches themselves weren’t always pretty. Tactical battles rarely are. But they showcased Hidlay’s growth as a wrestler – particularly his ability to stay disciplined in crucial moments.

“Because I’ve wrestled Brooks so many times, and he’s obviously gotten the better of me. Like, they (Penn State) had a game plan for me, and it required me to be focused and disciplined,” Hidlay explained. “When I’m not scoring points, I’m not scoring my hook; just be ultra disciplined.”

That discipline showed, especially in the second match’s waning moments. Leading 3-2 with less than a minute remaining, Hidlay stayed composed and defended well, refusing to give Barr any opening for a match-winning score.

“Get back to the center with 37 seconds left and just get your head in the way, down block, and do a good job of fading,” Hidlay said, breaking down his thought process during those final moments.

Behind every individual champion stands a team. Hidlay was quick to credit his training partners at the Regional Training Center, including Matty Singleton, who absorbed countless bruises simulating Hidlay’s opponents.

“I wish those guys were here with me because I still feel like I’m on the NC State team, and they welcomed me a lot,” Hidlay said. “He came into the room every day and scrapped. I probably got 25 pounds on him or so. And he’s a super tough kid.”

Family support also played an important role in Hidlay’s preparation. His brother’s presence helped keep him grounded during the pressure-filled build-up to the matches.

“It helped my brother’s here and being able to hang out with a friend; it means so much to me,” Hidlay said. “Anytime we’re together, we’re awesome there. We kicked our feet up in the hotel room and watched a little bit of Gridiron Gang and got fired up.”

That preparation, both physical and mental, culminated in the emotional moment when Hidlay secured his place on the world team. But true to his character, he’s already looking ahead to the challenges awaiting in Zagreb.

“I gotta get better in a couple of months. I gotta get a lot better in a couple of months because, you know, there are a lot of heavy hitters at 92,” Hidlay acknowledged. “But I fully expect myself to train real hard. I know that’s the expectation for the guys who represent the USA.”

For Hidlay, the mindset heading into worlds isn’t about hoping to compete – it’s about winning. That approach has carried him from Mifflin County to this moment, and it will guide him as he prepares to face the world’s best in Croatia.

The journey from local standout to world team member wasn’t built in a day. It came through the Regional Training Center at NC State, where Hidlay trains alongside elite wrestlers under Olympic silver medalist Jamill Kelly.

“It’s huge. I mean, you look at RTC, Olympic silver medalist Jamill Kelly’s the head coach, and the guys we have in there,” Hidlay said. “Nick Gwiazdowski’s back in town, so I get to get beat up by him. We have a lot of growth going.”

That growth has now propelled Hidlay to wrestling’s world stage, where he’ll wear the red, white and blue of Team USA.

By the time the arena cleared out, Mifflin County had a world team member. One of their own, carrying years of near-misses, is now writing a new story.

For those who remember the heartbreaks and close calls, Saturday felt different. The door wasn’t knocked on. It was kicked in. And in a place where wrestling isn’t a pastime, but proof, that’s what matters. The path to Zagreb is long, the work only ramps up from here, but for one night, the mat belonged to Mifflin County–and to Trent Hidlay.

Final X Results

57kg Spencer Lee over Luke Lilledahl, 2-0

Spencer Lee dec. Luke Lilledahl, 7-2

Spencer Lee dec. Luke Lilledahl, 6-0

65kg Real Woods over Joey McKenna, 2-0

Real Woods dec. Joey McKenna, 7-3

Real Woods dec. Joey McKenna, 4-4

70kg PJ Duke over Yianni Diakomihalis, 2-1

Yianni Diakomihalis tech fall PJ Duke, 10-0 (3:22)

PJ Duke dec. Yianni Diakomihalis, 17-10

PJ Duke pinned Yianni Diakomihalis, 4:38

74kg David Carr over Mitchell Mesenbrink, 2-0

David Carr dec. Mitchell Mesenbrink, 4-3

David Carr dec. Mitchell Mesenbrink, 4-4

79kg Levi Haines over Evan Wick, 2-0

Levi Haines tech fall Evan Wick, 10-0 (2:31)

Levi Haines dec. Evan Wick, 6-1

86kg Zahid Valencia over Kyle Dake, 2-0

Zahid Valencia dec Kyle Dake, 5-3

Zahid Valencia dec. Kyle Dake, 4-0

92kg Trent Hidlay over Josh Barr, 2-0

Trent Hidlay dec. Josh Barr, 6-1

Trent Hidlay dec. Josh Barr, 3-2

97kg Kyle Snyder over Hayden Zillmer, 2-0

Kyle Snyder dec. Hayden Zillmer, 8-0

Kyle Snyder dec. Hayden Zillmer, 8-2

125kg Wyatt Hendrickson over Trent Hillger, 2-0

Wyatt Hendrickson tech fall Trent Hillger, 10-0 (1:38)

Wyatt Hendrickson dec. Trent Hillger, 20-14

61kg Vito Arujau vs. Jax Forrest, to be wrestled at a later date.