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Trent wants to be a Cowboy, The guys are crushing on Gal Gadot, and "the 80's... They seem fun"

August 7, 2023

If you could travel to any year in a time machine, what year would you choose and why?

Aaron Faison- 2050 to see where I’m at in life

Adam Hall- 1700s, around the time that our country was being founded. I’d love to share my perspective of what the future looks like and bring some items from this time to show the people I meet.

AJ Kovacs- 2016 music was better

Alex Faison- August 15, 1969, I would hang out with my grandma at Woodstock 

Andrew Macchiavello- 250 million years ago to see the dinosaurs 

Brock DelSignore- Jesus when he was here on this earth and doing miracles

Chase Horne- 50’s so I could see how Pat looked in high school

Christian Knop- 2000, to see everyone’s expressions when Y2K was proven to be fake

Derek Fields- I would travel back to 1194 BC and see what the Trojan War was like

Mackenzi Wood- I would go to 2073 to see what my life was like and if my future self had any advice for present day me.

Dylan Fishback- I would choose 1776 to see how the USA began.

Dylan Reinert- 2018 so I could watch the Eagles win the Super Bowl again

Ed Scott- I’d probably go back to Ancient Greece just because I find their mythology interesting

Isaac Trumble- 2050 to see what my life looks like

Jackson Arrington- 480BC to watch the Battle of Thermopylae. 300 is one of my favorite movies.

Jackson Baglio- 1969 so I could stay for the 70s and 80s and enjoy all the music 

Jacob Cox- I would travel to 30-33 AD so I could see Jesus perform miracles and preach.

Jakob Camacho- ancient samurai Japan because I am fascinated with their lifestyle and values

Jarrett Trombley- December 31, 1999, to experience the new millennium 

Josh Johnson- 2019. That year was really great for me and I would love to experience that again.

Kai Orine - 2500. want to see if the movie Idiocracy is true 

Kevin Jack - 2014. My freshman year of college, all I had to worry about was school and wrestling

Koy Buesgens- 1987 to see my dad in his wrestling prime

Luke Ahrberg- I would go back to when Jesus was alive. I mean who wouldn’t want to see Jesus 

Matt Karagias- 2012

Matty Singleton- The creation of the pyramids to see what was really going on there

Owen Trephan- 100 years in the future or go back to see the pinnacle of the Roman Empire  

Pat- The year I was born to see what life was like

Ryan Jack - I would travel to when the Pyramids of Giza were made or when Jesus was on earth

Tommy Gantt- 1998

Trent Hidlay - 2011. I had a ton of fun with my friends when I was 12. Life was simple and fun. 

Trevor Kantor- 2100. It would be interesting to see what the future looks like.

Troy Hohman- Watch the Steelers win the Super Bowl in 04 cause I’m from Pittsburgh

Tyler- I would love to go back to the Cambrian explosion era, only if I had some indestructible submarine so I could look at the sea life without dying  

Vincent Robinson- 2027 because that’s when I could get my degree

Zack Karagias- The 80s just think it would be a fun time and the music


If you could have dinner with a famous person (living or dead), who would you choose?

Aaron Faison- Ana de Armas 

Adam Hall- Jesus

AJ Kovacs- Kevin hart 

Alex Faison- I would have dinner with Al Capone

Andrew Macchiavello- Ryan Reynolds 

Brock DelSignore- Jesus Christ. 

Chase Horne- Jesus

Christian Knop- Jesus

Derek fields- Theo Von because he’s interesting and funny

Dylan Fishback- Matthew McConaughey

Dylan Reinert- Ryan Reynolds

Ed Scott- Ryan Reynolds

Isaac Trumble- Jesus

Jackson Arrington- Mike Tyson

Jackson Baglio- Alexander the Great 

Jacob Cox- Joey Diaz

Jakob Camacho- Tom Brady 

Jarrett Trombley- I think Tom Brady would be a cool guy to have dinner with

Josh Johnson- Beyonce

Kai Orine - George Washington 

Kevin Jack - Bill Gates 

Koy Buesgens- Jesus Christ

Luke Ahrberg- Joey Chestnut

Matt Karagias- Black Beard 

Matty Singleton- Jesus Christ

Owen Trephan- Jesus Christ 

Mackenzi Wood- Coach K... Don't hold it against me.

Pat- Jimmy V

Ryan Jack - Jesus, Jon Jones, Mark Cuban, Theo Von 

Tommy Gantt- Nipsey Hussle

Trent Hidlay - Evel Knievel 

Trevor Kantor- Abraham Lincoln

Troy Hohman- Lil Baby 

Tyler- John Brown 

Vincent Robinson- King Von or Tupac

Zack Karagias- Elvis Presley


What are three items on your bucket list?

Aaron Faison- Meet my wife, skydive, go on a yacht

Adam Hall- Visit all 50 states, take my kids on an international trip outside of North America, and retire by 60.

AJ Kovacs- Go to Europe, Swim with Dolphins, and See the Great Wall of China

Alex Faison- Sail around the Caribbean for a year, Have a Homestead, and See Zach Bryan at Red Rocks 

Andrew Macchiavello- Skydiving, scuba diving somewhere treacherous, doing a backflip

Brock DelSignore- Travel overseas again, get to 5k subs on YouTube, have kids

Chase Horne- Water skiing, win a game of Kahoot

Christian Knop- Get a real Batman costume, visit Dubai, travel to my hometown in Germany

Derek Fields- Sky diving, seeing a wild monkey in person, traveling all around Europe

Dylan Fishback- Skydiving, traveling Europe, going to the Olympics

Dylan Reinert- Build a house, start a family, travel to another country 

Ed Scott- Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef, visit Rome, go to Greece

Isaac Trumble- Ride in a rodeo, travel to each national park, win a food competition

Jackson Arrington- Skydive, Scuba Dive, go in a shark cage

Jackson Baglio- do a backflip, get a tattoo, skydive. 

Jacob Cox- 1) Win an ACC Championship in Reynolds 2) Get baptized 3) Travel Africa

Jakob Camacho- Throw a dart on a map and travel there, hot air balloon skydiving, and visit ancient samurai villages in Japan.

Mackenzi Wood- Travel to all 50 states, own a vacation home, & get a doctorate.

Jarrett Trombley- I want to go to Hawaii, Skydive, and own a ‘69 Corvette Stingray.

Josh Johnson- Make a beat for a famous singer, go to Japan, and have a role in a movie/film.

Kai Orine - Build a car. Build a house. Live a meaningful life 

Kevin Jack - Go to Greece, live on a lake, own a boat

Koy Buesgens- Travel to Europe, travel to Japan, go either skydiving or paragliding

Luke Ahrberg- Go to a World Cup, skiing in Switzerland, and bear hunting in Alaska

Matt Karagias- Skydive cruise scuba dive 

Matty Singleton- Sky diving, swimming with sharks, open safari 

Owen Trephan- Hot air balloon, sky diving, and  scuba diving 

Pat- Go to a Super Bowl, George Strait Concert, Meet the Pope

Ryan Jack - Traveling Europe, going skydiving, owning a house on the lake 

Tommy Gantt- Get rich, perform in MSG BUY MOM a house

Trent Hidlay - 1.) Win world and Olympic gold medals 2.) Have a big and healthy family 3.) Own a vacation home

Trevor Kantor- Travel to all the national parks. Travel to all 7 continents. Go elk hunting.

Troy Hohman- Visit Italy, go skydiving and go bear hunting in Alaska 

Tyler- Visit the Andes, live in another country and skydive 

Vincent Robinson- Get my degree, Olympic Gold Medal, and Make 6-7 figures a year

Zack Karagias- Surf in Hawaii, catch a mahi-mahi, go diving in a shark cage


Who is your celebrity crush?

Aaron Faison- Ana de Armas

Adam Hall- Margot Robbie

AJ Kovacs- Lil baby 

Alex Faison- Nope

Andrew Macchiavello- Gal Gadot

Brock DelSignore- Gal Gadot

Chase Horne- That girl from “My Name Is Earl”

Christian Knop- Dua Lipa

Derek Fields- Rihanna

Dylan Fishback- Daenerys Targaryen

Dylan Reinert- Madelyn Cline

Ed Scott- Don’t have one

Isaac Trumble- My girlfriend

Jackson Arrington- Megan Fox in 2008-2010

Jackson Baglio- Natalie portman 

Jacob Cox- Gisele from Fast and Furious (Gal Gadot)

Jakob Camacho- Megan Fox circa the original Transformers 

Jarrett Trombley- Mika Kunis

Josh Johnson- Ariana Grande 

Kai Orine- Ryan Reynolds 

Kevin Jack - Megan Fox 

Koy Buesgens- Ana de Armas 

Luke Ahrberg- Carrie Underwood

Matt Karagias- Megan Fox

Matty Singleton- My girlfriend

Mackenzi Wood- Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively

Owen Trephan- Jessica Alba 

Pat- Don't have one

Ryan Jack - Maddison Beer  

Tommy Gantt- Nia Long

Trent Hidlay - When I was a kid I liked the pink Power Ranger 

Trevor Kantor- Carrie Underwood

Troy Hohman- Madelyn Cline 

Tyler- Salma Hayek

Vincent Robinson- Keke Palmer

Zack Karagias- Margo Robbie


What's your dream job?

Aaron Faison- Rapper

Adam Hall- Coaching!

AJ Kovacs- NFL Player

Alex Faison- Whatever Dom Toretto's job title is 

Andrew Macchiavello- Multiple restaurant owner or professional athlete

Brock DelSignore- WWE Superstar 

Chase Horne- Stay-at-home dad

Christian Knop- FBI Behavioral Science Unit

Derek Fields- Being the owner of a big business

Dylan Fishback- Professional athlete or CIA Agent

Dylan Reinert- Professional athlete

Ed Scott- D1 Head Coach

Isaac Trumble- Wrestling

Jackson Arrington- college wrestling coach

Jackson Baglio- anything that gets me enough money to retire early 

Jacob Cox- Own an Engineering firm where I can let my creativity shine.

Jakob Camacho- actor

Jarrett Trombley- To be a doctor!

Josh Johnson- Either writing or producing something for television

Kai Orine - Lottery winner 

Kevin Jack - Head Coach 

Koy Buesgens- Software engineer

Luke Ahrberg- Business Owner

Matt Karagias- President 

Matty Singleton- Creative Director in marketing

Owen Trephan- A wrestling coach

Pat- NC State Head Wrestling Coach

Mackenzi Wood- Athletic Director

Ryan Jack - Sports agent

Tommy Gantt- Coaching

Trent Hidlay - Cowboy

Trevor Kantor- Building and designing a Racecar

Troy Hohman- movie star 

Tyler- Marine biologist

Vincent Robinson- D1 or D2 Wrestling Coach

Zack Karagias- Being an entrepreneur

NCAA Recap & What's Next?

By Mackenzi Wood • March 28, 2025
“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

2025 Zagreb Open Ranking Series Tournament Recap

By Mackenzi Wood • March 28, 2025
“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

Trent Hidlay signs with Wolfpack RTC to continue his TRAINING & Freestyle career

June 13, 2024
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!

Meet The Team

August 7, 2023
Get to know some of your favorite Wolfpack Wrestlers!

This or That- Summer Edition

By Mackenzi Wood • August 7, 2023
This or That- Summer Edition
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