Hayden Hidlay Transitions from NC State All-Time Great to Life in Coaching

957 Views | 2 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by 89_Grad
Wolfer79
How long do you want to ignore this user?
https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/26061

Hayden Hidlay battled to the very last whistle of his decorated career at NC State, where he was the school's first-ever five-time All-American, and was interviewed on national television the moment that lengthy career ended at the 2022 NCAA Championships. What followed was honest, raw and emotional, and the message managed to transcend the bubble of college wrestling and meander into the mainstream with nearly 300,000 views to date.

That two-minute interview captured the hardships and the blood and sweat that went into Hidlay's impact on a Wolfpack program that grew right along with him. He shared his love for his brother, Trent, and modestly said he was never "the best" or "the worst" guy at his weight. While that may be true, Hidlay was damn close to being the best.

Hidlay finished his NC State career with a 110-11 record, one appearance in the NCAA finals, finishes of third, fourth and fifth, and four ACC individual titles. He went 19-3 and placed third at 174 pounds in his final season, which included a loss to Penn State national champ Carter Starocci in the championship semifinals and a pair of wins over fellow Pennsylvania native Michael Kemerer of Iowa.

Coach Pat Popolizio and the NC State program are hoping Hidlay can continue making the same kind of impact on every wrestler who walks through their doors. The idea throughout Hidlay's sixth and final season of competition was to observe everything around him with a future transition into coaching in mind. The next step in that process was for Hidlay to stay with the program in a newly created role as student-athlete development coordinator.
Dr Wire
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Hidley & Trent spoke at Raleigh Sports Club. Honestly I was apprehensive before the meeting about their talk since they were the first current athletes we had speak. Typically, it has been a coach, former player, administrator or media person. Welcome to NIL where we can pay a player our meager speaker's fee without a compliance issue.

They were tremendous! Very impressive young men who spoke with passion about NC State, wrestling in general, Coach Pop, the community and past/current/future state of the Wolfpack wrestling program's focus to be nationally prominent. Interjected humor and stories with humility. Hidley should be a University Ambassador along with his Athlete Development duties. No doubt both of them could coach one day.
89_Grad
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Dr Wire said:

Hidley & Trent spoke at Raleigh Sports Club. Honestly I was apprehensive before the meeting about their talk since they were the first current athletes we had speak. Typically, it has been a coach, former player, administrator or media person. Welcome to NIL where we can pay a player our meager speaker's fee without a compliance issue.

They were tremendous! Very impressive young men who spoke with passion about NC State, wrestling in general, Coach Pop, the community and past/current/future state of the Wolfpack wrestling program's focus to be nationally prominent. Interjected humor and stories with humility. Hidley should be a University Ambassador along with his Athlete Development duties. No doubt both of them could coach one day.
Echo this. I was at Sports Club yesterday, and they were outstanding and very well spoken. And they got more questions from the crowd than I've seen posed to any speakers in a long time...
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.