2-time Champ Trent Hidlay interview

By rscaife
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Updated: March 13, 2018

Editors note: After picking up his second PIAA State wrestling championship, Mifflin County’s Trent Hidlay took time after a recent ceremony to talk to Hometown Sports editor Kenny Varner about his career from the early days and into the future:

HS: What was your mindset going into the state tournament this year and then in the championship match?

TH: I was really confident going into the state tournament this year. I knew I had a title to defend and I knew people were going to be coming after me. So I wanted to be really dominant with my wins and just be really crisp and have fun doing it. This was my last time wrestling as a Mifflin County Husky and I wanted to leave a lasting impression on these guys to remember me and I’m so excited that I could share all these memories with a great group of guys.
HS: Looking back on your career it must have seen like it flew by for you.
TH: It still feels like yesterday it was my freshman year and I was leaving the Giant Center without a medal. But I wouldn’t trade these four years for anything. I had such great teammates and coaches. I’ve made so many memories, it will last a lifetime. I’m just so glad I could be a part of such a great program here.

HS: I don’t know if you remember this or not but a few years ago we interviewed you and your brother Hayden and I asked you what your goals were and you said it was to be a two-time medal winner, looking back and it came true. How much work and dedication does it take to achieve such a goal.

TH: Like I’ve said before it’s a commitment that most sane people aren’t willing to do. I don’t know if I could describe all the things I’ve done but some of it’s pretty crazy. Looking back on it I’ve done some pretty crazy things training wise that I don’t think a lot of normal people could do. At the end of the day, this is what my goal was and this is what I wanted to do. In order to accomplish that I knew I had pretty crazy things in my training to get me to this point. I don’t have any regrets for what I’ve done. I’ve won a lot. I’ve made a lot of friends in this County and I’m glad I could leave as a 2-time State champion.

HS: How does it feel to have all these little kids look up to you like they do?

TH: It’s great! It just reminds me when I was younger and I was that little kid running up to the guys in high school. It means a lot to me that these guys look up to me and it’s important for me to be a good role model for them and to lead the path for them and hopefully they can take the torch from me and run with it.

HS: Going up to the next level, do you have the same goals?

TH: Absolutely! My goals will never change. I want to win and I want to be a National Champion and a multi-time National Champion. I got a lot of work to do. I have to start fresh at NC State. I’m real excited about starting that chapter of my life.