Submitted photo
Former Mifflin County Husky Trent Hidlay wrestles David Taylor at the World Team Trials.
You ever hear about the young man from Mifflin County who took on a wrestling god? Well, pull up a chair because Trent Hidlay didn’t just step onto the mat at the World Team Trials–he redefined courage.
Picture this: David Taylor, three-time World Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, wrestling royalty, staring down our hometown hero in the 92kg finals. Most would buckle. Hidlay? He dug in.
First period, Taylor comes out swinging–takedown, gut wrench for a nearfall, another takedown. Scoreboard flashes 6-0. The crowd thinks it’s over. But Trent? He’s got other ideas.
As the seconds tick away, Hidlay snags a takedown. The buzzer sounds. Score reads 6-2. A flicker of hope ignites.
Second period, and Trent’s on the prowl. He shoots, scores another takedown. Now it’s 6-4. Taylor hasn’t felt this kind of heat since, well, Aaron Brooks at the Olympic Trials. The champ responds, edges ahead 8-4, but Hidlay refuses to back down.
With time melting away, Trent rolls the dice. Goes for a big move–high risk, high reward. Both wrestlers tumble, each grabbing two points for exposure. The final whistle blows. Taylor wins 10-6, but the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
See, Taylor moved on and beat Zahid Valencia in the Challenge Match for a spot on the 2024 World Team. But everyone watching knew they had witnessed something special.
Trent didn’t only wrestle a match; he announced his arrival. He showed grit, heart, and a fearlessness you can’t teach. Against a legend, he didn’t flinch. He went toe-to-toe and, for a moment, had the mighty David Taylor looking over his shoulder.
Before the finals, Hidlay was a wrecking ball. Round of 16? He tech-falls Eze Chukwuezi 12-2 in two and a half minutes. Quarterfinals? Maximus Hale, dispatched 10-0 in less time than it takes to microwave popcorn. Semifinals? Jonathan Aiello meets the same fate, 12-1.
Dominant doesn’t cover it. He was a one-man storm.
And who are his only losses this year? Taylor and Brooks. That’s like climbing Everest and K2 but missing the summit by a hair. No shame in that.
Mifflin County has had its share of mat heroes. Ken Whitsel from Lewistown, Joe Heller from Chief Logan, and let’s not forget Trent’s brother, Hayden Hidlay, who blazed trails of his own. They are a few of the greats to come out of Mifflin County.
But Trent? He’s different. He’s the apex, the peak of what this county’s produced. He’s the guy who stared down a titan and dared to believe he belonged.
Think about it. From the local gyms to the national stage, Hidlay’s journey is a story of relentless ambition. He doesn’t represent Mifflin County; he elevates it.
There’s no parade for second place, no banners for close calls. But sometimes, a performance transcends the result. Trent didn’t secure the win, but he earned something more valuable: respect from peers, from fans, and maybe most important, from himself.
It’s easy to get lost in the shadow of giants. To play it safe, stay in your lane. But Hidlay charged into the spotlight, all fire and fearlessness.
And let’s not gloss over the fact he’s still climbing. This isn’t the peak; it’s the ascent. He’s tasted the rarefied air at the top levels of the sport, and you get the sense he’s not satisfied.
What does this mean for Mifflin County? Plenty. It’s proof greatness can grow in our backyard. Our kids can dream big and then step onto the mat and make those dreams reality.
Trent’s story isn’t over. Not by a long shot. If anything, this chapter at the World Team Trials sets the stage for what’s next.
He’ll go back to the grind, hone his craft, and return sharper. He is an athlete who doesn’t settle or flinch at daunting odds.
So, here’s to Trent Hidlay–the best wrestler ever to come out of Mifflin County. He didn’t need a gold medal to prove it. He showed it in six hard-fought minutes against one of the best in the world.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Watch the match. See how he moved, how he attacked, how he didn’t back down.
In a sport where margins are razor-thin and glory fleeting, moments like these matter. They’re signposts on a journey we all have the privilege to witness.
Because sometimes, the young man from Mifflin County doesn’t just challenge the king–he becomes one.
