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 his second Wolves Den appearance, Trent Hidlay joins host Josh Johnson to recap an incredible summer of competition, including his Final X victory and gold-medal performance in Budapest.
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In this special episode of Wolves Den, host Josh Johnson takes the mic solo to introduce himself and share his journey—from growing up in Miami and getting into wrestling through family ties, to competing for NC State and discovering his passion for media.
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In this high-energy episode of The Wolves Den, host Josh Johnson catches up with NC State standout Jackson Arrington for an unfiltered look at his journey through the Wolfpack wrestling program. From stepping into the lineup as the only freshman starter to becoming an ACC Champion, Jackson reflects on key moments, lessons learned, and even a few locker room legends.
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In episode three of the Wolves Den interview series, we welcome Wolfpack Wrestling alumnus Tariq Wilson. A standout performer and multiple-time All-American, Tariq gives a compelling look into his wrestling career—from his Steubenville roots to becoming one of NC State’s most decorated grapplers.
In this Wolves Den interview, host Josh Johnson chats with Wolfpack alum Christian Knop via Zoom. Christian reflects on his return to the Wolfpack RTC after graduation, bouncing back from a tough ankle injury, and stepping into a leadership role during his final season. He opens up about future goals—possibly coaching or even WWE
As the inaugural episode of the "Wolves Den" interview series, this video delves into Trent's journey, experiences, and insights within the sport.
🏆 Wolfpack RTC Athletes Compete at 2025 World Team Trials Challenge