NC State wrestling appears to be at the mountaintop of collegiate wrestling after winning five consecutive ACC team titles. However, this incredible achievement is just a step towards the Pack’s goal: a national championship.
“We came here to compete at an elite level,” said head coach Pat Popolizio. “The ultimate goal has been to win a [team] national title, and we haven’t done that yet.”
Popolizio has built one of the nation’s strongest wrestling programs in the country, one that consistently competes on a national level. Under Popolizio, the standard is only the best, which has led to an incredible decade of wrestling. Among his many accomplishments, he’s coached three individual national champions, six NCAA finalists and 24 All-Americans. However, Popolizio’s best work has happened off the mat as he guides his wrestlers to grow as people.
“The overall culture and accountability that [Popolizio] holds with everybody is one of the more thankful things that I’ve been able to take away as a person,” said redshirt junior Kai Orine. “This is a place that promotes you to be a better person, rather than just a better wrestler.”
On the mat, expectations remain high entering the 2023-24 season. The Pack returns all 10 starters from last season — four ACC champions and three All-Americans. With an experienced team, the red-and-white is already prepared for the season and aren’t becoming complacent just because of past successes.
“Our coaching staff remains hungry, and we continue to embrace that with the guys,” Popolizio said. “Every guy is trying their hardest to continue to improve and compete at the highest level.”
The road to a national championship will not be easy — the red-and-white will face marquee opponents in and out of conference throughout its 23-24’ season. The highlight of the out-of-conference slate is a trip to Italy, where NC State will take on No. 10 Oklahoma State. In the ACC, the Pack’s biggest challenger will be No. 4 Virginia Tech, which visits Reynolds Coliseum on Friday, Feb. 23.
“I’m so excited to go to Italy,” Orine said. “Who the heck gets to take a vacation just to go wrestle. That’s one hell of an opponent and an opportunity to prove myself.”
Leading the Pack this season is redshirt senior Trent Hidlay, who’s moving up to the 197 pound weight class. After winning two ACC championships and being named a three-time All-American in the 184 pound class, Hidlay is looking to elevate his game to an even higher level. In a new weight class, Hidlay remains focused on the same goal as always — becoming a national champion.
“The reasoning behind my move up is to allow myself to spend more time getting better at wrestling and not have to worry about cutting as much weight,” Hidlay said. “I haven’t wrestled my best at the NCAA tournament the past three years and I’ve been lucky to come away with All-American status, but my goal is to be a national champion.”
Orine is also set to be one of the Pack’s locker room leaders this season. Like Hidlay, Orine was an ACC champion and All-American last year. After multiple seasons with the Pack, Orine has settled into the 133 pound weight class and is set for another impressive campaign.
“Out of all the years that I’ve been here … it was one of the most exciting, emotional and fun years I’ve had here,” Orine said. “I’ve been able to go out, compete and really show off my personality, having fun and acting like a psycho sometimes.”
One more key wrestler for the Pack is redshirt junior Owen “Big O” Trephan, the Wolfpack’s heavyweight starter. The Summerville, South Carolina native provides a unique blend of size and athleticism that makes him one of the Wolfpack’s more dangerous wrestlers. After securing an ACC championship last season, Trephan is set to be a weapon for the red-and-white once again.
“He’s good enough to compete with the best guys in the country,” Popolizio said. “He’s a real athletic heavyweight and a smart kid — he’s got all the tools he needs to accomplish his goals this year.”
With this trio of tremendous wrestlers and the rest of NC State’s talent, the Wolfpack has a nationally competitive team. Facing a slate of tough opponents this season, the red-and-white will not have an easy road to a championship. However, if any team is prepared to tackle that path, it’s the Wolfpack.
