2025 Zagreb Open Ranking Series Tournament Recap
March 28, 2025
Thank You From Trent Hidlay To His Many Supporters
“Failure Is The Price For Success”
That is what has been on my mind the past few days as I reflect on my recent tournament in Zagreb, Croatia. It
is funny sometimes the value that reflecting during 24 straight hours of travel can have after you come up short
in a competition. After a tough tournament where I finished with Bronze, I was frustrated with myself and the
circumstances that I was wrestling through.
In the beginning of my first match against Moldova (Eugeniu Mihalcean- 2024 u23 bronze and 2023 u20
bronze), I went for an underhook whip-over and hurt one of my oblique muscles. I had a hard time finding my
rhythm the rest of the day and dropped my match against Azerbaijan (2024 U23 Silver) before finishing with a
win for bronze over Georgia (2019 U23 Gold).
I was frustrated because my preparation had been excellent and I was excited to wrestle with some of the
improvements that I've been making in training. However, I do believe that my training leading up to the
tournament helped me push through and finish.
Make no mistake about it- this was not the sole reason for my loss. The hard truth about senior level wrestling
is that you are going to lose and there will be a learning curve in the process. Wrestling guys from other
countries presents challenges and a feel that is very foreign to me (pun intended). The only way to get better
against the best guys in the world is to compete against them! So, as I continue to reflect, I understand the
importance of failing in order to break through to the next level.
I'm not happy with losing, but I know I gave maximum effort and did some great things while battling through
adversity. Ultimately, that is where true growth will blossom and I know I’m going to get better from it. Now, it is
time to heal and get back to work! Wolfpack RTC Head Wrestling Coach Jamill Kelly and I will watch film,
make a plan for improvements, and attack it! This is the way to eventual success. Prepare, challenge yourself
in competition, analyze, and get better.
Thanks to your support, I am able to have these opportunities that will help me advance and continue to chase
the goals of bringing World and Olympic medals back to Raleigh and NC state wrestling! I feel blessed and
grateful that you all play a role in my development and success at this stage in my career. We are currently
looking at a match on the incredible Flowrestling card on February 26th in Iowa City, Iowa. Additionally, I look
forward to getting back into the room with the guys as they prepare for Stanford, VT, ACC’s, and NCAA’s! It is
an exciting time to be a NC State and Wolfpack RTC fan!
**Side Note: Zagreb, Croatia is an amazing city and it was such a cool place to visit and explore. This is one of
the added benefits with these competitions. Seeing the world, gaining new perspectives on life, and learning
from other wrestlers and countries from across the world!
Sincerely,
Trent Hidlay
In this episode of the Wolves Den, Josh Johnson shares a few important updates ahead of the ACC Championships. While the planned fan bus to Blacksburg unfortunately didn’t reach the numbers needed to move forward, the excitement for this weekend’s tournament is still building. The Wolfpack will compete at the ACC Championships this Sunday, and the team needs the continued support of Wolfpack Nation—whether that’s in person or cheering from home. With the postseason underway, the goal is clear: qualify all 10 wrestlers for the NCAA Championships in two weeks and make a strong run at reclaiming the ACC team title.
In this episode of the Wolves Den, Josh Johnson recaps the hard-fought matchup and highlights a special Senior Night as NC State honored the graduating wrestlers alongside their friends and family. With the regular season wrapped up, the focus now shifts to the postseason. The Pack heads to the ACC Championships on March 8 in Blacksburg, Virginia, hosted by Virginia Tech. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the team in person, and updates will be shared on the Wolfpack RTC Twitter along with any available streaming options.
In this episode, we catch up with Daniel Cormier and his thoughts on the coaches, wrestlers, and events shaping college wrestling today. He shares his strong connections with our staff, highlights the impressive career of Daniel Zepeda—a three-time state champion—and reflects on Zepeda's determination and memorable moments on the mat. Plus, DC gives a sneak peek into his next big appearance at UFC 324, featuring Justin Gaethje vs. Patty Pimblett for the lightweight championship, streaming on Paramount+.
Join Josh Johnson as he recaps the Wolfpack's hard-fought road win against Pitt. The team showed up and got a strong bounce-back victory following last week’s loss to Virginia Tech. With two duals remaining in the regular season, the Pack heads to Durham this week to take on Duke before returning to Reynolds Coliseum for Senior Night against Cornell.
Josh Johnson is back in the Wolves Den with a quick recap of NC State Wrestling’s Military Appreciation Dual against Virginia Tech. While the Pack came up short on the scoreboard, the fight and effort were on full display. National Champion Vince Robinson opened the dual with a gritty performance that went to sudden victory, and big wins from Ryan Jack, Will Denny, Matty Singleton, and Isaac Trumble kept the energy high in Reynolds Coliseum.
In this episode, Josh Johnson recaps a big Alumni Night weekend for Wolfpack Wrestling. He breaks down another strong rivalry win — marking 13 straight over UNC — and highlights upset victories from Will Denny & Zach Redding.
Brad Yokum joins Josh Johnson while the team is on the road in California. Brad shares his journey into wrestling, from growing up around the sport to walking on at NC State and earning his spot traveling with the team this season. Brad reflects on the transition from his first year to now, what it’s been like representing the Wolfpack in competition, and how staying consistent and goal-driven has shaped his path.
In this episode, we recap a big weekend for Wolfpack Wrestling — from strong performances at the F&M Open to an intense home dual against Virginia. Hear highlights from the mat, including key wins by Koy Buesgens, Will Denny, Matty Singleton, Don Cates, and a clutch match-sealing pin by Isaac Trumble to secure the 19–17 victory over the Cavaliers.
Join Josh Johnson in the Wolves Den as he recaps the recent Ohio State dual, where the team faced No. 2 ranked Ohio State. Highlights include standout victories from Vince Robinson, Will Denny in a thrilling sudden victory, Isaac Trumble, and a strong performance from Koy Buesgens in a hard-fought loss.
Join Josh Johnson in this episode of the Wolfpack Den as he recaps the wins against Morgan State & Rutgers as well as how some guys did at the Patriot Open! The Wolfpack secured a hard-fought 45-14 win over Morgan State and a 27-11 win over #14 Rutgers. Jackson Arrington & Matty Singleton both record two bonus points wins on the day, with Singleton securing a fall over #4 Lenny Pinto in the first period.