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NCAA Recap & What's Next?
March 28, 2025
Open Letter From Coach Pop
“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill
It always takes a few days to properly reflect on the NCAA tournament and the entire season. Traveling back from Philadelphia, there was a ton of energy around our coaching staff and the team, but I remember back in October when it wasn't certain that we would feel this way after the tournament. With so many unknowns and changes to the lineup, we knew that this season was going to present some unique challenges to the team and the program. From the outside looking in, this wasn’t a team that was expected to place very high. Although there were some doubts, I always knew what this team could do when they put their best wrestling together.
The Churchill quote reminds me of this season as a whole. With a young and inexperienced lineup, we wanted to test these guys throughout the season. Out of conference dual meets with Rutgers, Cornell, and Oklahoma State, along with the toughest in season tournament in the country, the Cliff Keen Invitational, they certainly were tested. Add in the ACC schedule and the ACC tournament, there was no shortage of quality competition. We placed 15th at the CKLV and lost to Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech in dual meets. After each one of these failures, the team responded with the same enthusiasm as they have always had and got back to work, getting ready for the next competition. We placed 3rd at the ACC tournament after winning it 6 years in a row. When everyone seemed to count us out, the team did what they have done all season long-they responded. They put together a great week and a half of training to prepare for NCAA’s with the enthusiasm that this program is known for. That is why our results last weekend are not surprising to me. Even in what some would call a “down year” we secured 8th place with 3 All-Americans and a National Champion. This was a result of understanding that the failures weren’t really a failure at all, they were opportunities for us to see where we needed to improve and grow. With that growth mindset, success is only a matter of time. These guys stepped up when it mattered and they were rewarded for it! Now let’s look at how we were able to secure that 8th place finish.
Starting at 125, what else can be said about Vincent Robinson. The first lightweight National Champion in program history and the first freshman champion for NC State since 1980. As the 4 seed, Vincent opened up with a win over Joey Cruz of Iowa and a last second takedown over Marc-Anthony McGowen of Princeton. At that moment we knew it was going to be a special tournament for Vincent. He won in the quarterfinals over Dean Peterson of Rutgers and then in the semi-finals over Sheldon Seymour of Lehigh. On the biggest stage in college wrestling on Saturday night, Vincent’s belief and confidence were evident as he beat Troy Spratley in overtime tiebreakers to win the National Championship. His points went a long way in leading the team to a top 10 finish.
At 285, Isaac Trumble fought through immense adversity in the consolation bracket to finish 4th. After losing to eventual champion Wyatt Hendrickson of Oklahoma State, Trumble gritted out 3 wins over Nick Feldman of Ohio State, Josh Heindselman of Michigan, and former teammate Owen Trephan of Lehigh. Isaac getting tough through these matches is the epitome of what the Pack Mentality is all about and it played a huge role in getting the team to the finish.
At 174, Matty Singleton secured 7th place as the 14 seed in his bracket. After losing to eventual champion Dean Hamiti of Oklahoma State, he rattled off 3 wins over Danny Braunagel of Illinois, Brevin Cassela of Binghamton, and Lennox Wolak of Virginia Tech to secure All-American status. He then finished the tournament on a high note, beating the 7 seed Danny Wask of Navy for 7th place. We watched him go through a lot of adversity and he showed how mentally strong he is throughout the entire tournament.
We also had great contributions from the other 5 qualifiers. Kai Orine finished his career as a 2x All-American. Koy Buesgens lost to the 4th place finisher and then the 4 seed in the consolation rounds. This experience will help him grow and jump levels for next season. Ed Scott finished his career as an All-American. Derek Fields finished his career as a 2x NCAA Qualifier. Dylan Fishback fell in the bloodround. We know that this will motivate him to continue his growth as he hunts for the podium next season.
So, what is next? We get back to work. It is important for us to keep this momentum going as we prepare for the offseason and then into the 2026 season. Given the state of college athletics, it is more important than ever that we continue building our culture and giving our guys the support that they need to accomplish their individual goals as well as our program goals of winning a team national title. Next season could be the most anticipated team we have ever had. We will add Jackson Arrington and Ryan Jack back to the lineup after their redshirt seasons. Factor in an incoming top 10 recruiting class and it is easy to get excited about this team.
I want to finish off by giving a huge thank you to all of the donors, fans, and supporters. Wolfpack nation has been incredible all season long. Your presence was made known at NCAA’s and your support allows us to continue building something special in Raleigh.
Hear from our three All-Americans and what it means to have your support:
Vincent Robinson:
“It has been a pleasure to compete in front of all the Wolfpack fans in Reynolds and on the road and getting the job done my freshman year. You guys treated me like family and welcomed me with open arms since the first dual and I love you all for that.
Thanks Wolfpack Nation! Thanks for all the support throughout the season and believing in us as a team. We coming back for more next year! #2xSoon…”
Isaac Trumble:
“The Wolfpack family has shown more support for this team than ever before. This season had its ups and downs, but it ended on a high note. A top-8 finish felt out of reach at the start of the year, but our belief in one another pushed us to our best performance yet!
Thank you to all the fans who showed up and cheered us on—both at Reynolds and on the road. Most importantly, thank you to the donors whose support made a lasting impact on each of our lives!”
Matty Singleton:
“Thank you Wolfpack nation for believing in us and sticking with us to the end. We work hard for our personal glory but it is always great when there is a team, program, and support system that is worth fighting for because we know they have our backs as well. Excited for the future and packing out Reynolds and putting on a show again soon!”
It is time to build!! You all are an integral part of our success and we want you to help us reach the next level. We are asking for donations to take NC State to the next level and push for a National Championship next season.
How can you help? Every donation to our RTC goes directly to supporting our athletes and the program. No matter how big or small, you get to have a hand in our success as a donor and friend to the program. It was amazing seeing previous wrestlers, alumni, and donors at the RTC sponsored social in Philadelphia. Let’s make a push to elevate NC State wrestling!!!
Respectfully,
Pat Popolizio
“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
Raleigh, NC — June 13, 2024— The Wolfpack Regional Training Center (RTC) is excited to announce that Trent Hidlay has committed to continue his training in Raleigh with the Wolfpack RTC. Hidlay, a standout athlete from NC State, expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career: "I am very excited to join the Wolfpack RTC and continue my senior-level freestyle career in Raleigh. Throughout my entire collegiate career at NC State, the Wolfpack RTC played a huge role in my development as an athlete. I am looking forward to working alongside the coaching staff to improve my skills as a wrestler and achieve my goals of becoming a World and Olympic Champion." Hidlay will focus on pursuing freestyle championships and will contribute significantly to the development of fellow Wolfpack RTC athletes, helping them hone their skills to become future champions. Additionally, he will serve as an ambassador for the Wolfpack RTC through public appearances and by representing the team in competitions nationwide and internationally. The Wolfpack RTC community is thrilled to have such a dedicated and talented athlete like Trent Hidlay continue to "Raise the Roof" for wrestling, both in Raleigh and around the world. Coach Popolizio commented on Hidlay’s impact on the growth of wrestling in North Carolina, stating, "Trent has built a following of sports fans who have become wrestling fans due to his engagement both on and off the mat. He has demonstrated what skilled and passionate wrestling looks like and has been instrumental in helping his teammates understand their responsibility to the sport and the wrestling community. Trent staying in Raleigh to train will allow his influence on the sport to continue as we grow the fan base for wrestling." To support Trent Hidlay and all the athletes training with the Wolfpack RTC, please visit www.wolfpackrtc.org to join or make a donation to support our wrestlers. The Wolfpack RTC is a volunteer-based organization, dedicated to supporting the national and international aspirations of wrestlers training in the Raleigh area. Every contribution makes a significant impact!
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