How NC State’s wrestlers did at U.S. Olympic Trials
NC State had four current or former wrestlers in action at the U.S. Olympic Trials in State College, Pa., over the weekend, vying for a spot on the nation’s freestyle squad in Paris.
And after three days of competition, the Wolfpack nearly had one wrestler make the Olympic team.
Redshirt sophomore Isaac Trumble, the 2023 97 kg U-23 World Champion, battled his way through the challenge tournament at the same weight. He beat Johnathan Aiello in the semifinal round, which included a comeback after being down 4-0 in the first period.
Trumble then faced former Ohio State All-American Kollin Moore in the challenge final with the winner headed to the final round. The Wolfpacker dominated the bout against Moore, leading 6-0 in the first period. Trumble took a 9-1 lead in the second period after a takedown less than a minute in and then another 35 seconds later.
The Springfield, Neb., native won the challenge tournament, which gave him the opportunity to face 2016 Olympic gold medalist and 2020 silver medalist Kyle Snyder in the final. In the best-of-three matchup, it was Snyder who walked away victorious, representing the U.S. in his 10th straight World Championship or Olympic games.
Synder won the first bout 5-0 before taking the second bout 4-0 on Saturday night, winning the series 2-0. Though Trumble came up short, he was the only current collegiate wrestler to make the final round of the Olympic Trials.
Trumble, a two-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-ACC selection, redshirted this past season to focus on the U.S. Olympic Trials. He will return to the mat for the Wolfpack next season.
While Trumble made a run to the end of the U.S. Olympic Trials, Wolfpack four-time All-American Trent Hidlay finished in third at 86 kg. He, like Trumble, earned a spot on the USA National Team for a top-three finish at the trials.
Although Hidlay did not make the final round, he beat four-time NCAA national champion Carter Starocci 6-4 in the event.
In addition to Trumble and Hidlay wrestling at the trials, there were a pair of former NC State wrestlers in the event.
Mike Macchiavello, the 2018 197-pound national champion, fell in the 97 kg quarterfinals to Aiello, who Trumble beat in the challenge semifinals the following round. Nick Gwiazdowski, a two-time national champion at 285 pounds, lost to Hayden Zillmer in the 125 kg challenge final — one bout away from wrestling for a spot at the Olympics.
