NC State’s Hidlay Becomes 2-Time All-American, Wilson & Fausz to Wrestle for All-American Honors

PITTSBURGH, PA. – For the second straight year, R-So. Hayden Hidlay has advanced to the NCAA Championships semifinals, and in the process becomes a two-time All-American. Hidlay will face top-seeded Jason Nolf of Penn State for a spot in the finals.

In addition to Hidlay in action tonight, a pair of Wolfpack wrestlers are also one win away from earning All-American honors. With a win tonight, R-Sr. Sean Fausz (125 pounds) and R-So. Tariq Wilson (133) will both also become All-Americans.

NC State Friday Night Matchups – Session 4:

SEMIFINALS

157: BOUT #509 – #5 seed Hayden Hidlay (23-2) vs. #1 seed Jason Nolf (29-0)

BLOOD ROUND

125: Bout #522 – #14 seed Sean Fausz (14-3) vs. #8 seed Vitali Arujau (Cornell – 28-3)

133: Bout #526 – #11 seed Tariq Wilson (17-4) vs. #8 seed John Erneste (Missouri – 20-5)

Quarterfinals Recap

Hidlay secured his second straight All-American season with a thrilling OT win in the quarterfinals over #4 seed Pantaleo of Michigan, 5-3. Hidlay was down in the third, when Pantaleo was called for a hands to the face and the score was tied 3-3 after regulation. Hidlay got the winning takedown with 12 seconds left in the first OT period, to defeat Pantaleo for the second straight year at the NCAAs.

Consolation Round 3 Recap

Fausz captured his second win in as many matches, a 7-2 decision over #21 seeded Schwarm of Northern Iowa. Fausz scored a takedown and racked up 2:35 of riding time in the first period. He then added a pair of reversals to secure the win.

Wilson also won both of his bouts today, bot going for bonus points. Wilson scored a 13-0 major decision over ACC rival, #14 seed Myers of Virginia Tech. In the bout, he scored three takedowns and a trio of tow-point near falls and added a point for riding time.

Anther pair of Wolfpack wrestlers saw their careers come to an end with a loss in their second match of the day. 2019 ACC Champion Jamel Morris fell 16-10 at 141 pounds to #11 seed Moran of Wisconsin and Justin Oliver lost to #18 seed Prince of Navy 8-6 at 149 pounds.

Consolation Round 2 Recap

Day Two action started with Fausz at 125 pounds, and he advanced with a third period pin against #20 seed Townsell of Stanford. Up 3-0 with over two minutes of ride time to start the third, Fausz scored a takedown and turned it right into a pin to advance.

Wilson made it back-to-back bonus point wins to start the Pack’s day, as he scored a 19-4 tech fall win over #21 seed Sykora of North Dakota State. Wilson posted three first-period takedowns, then got a two-point then a four-point near fall in the second.

Three straight bonus point wins to open the consolation round, as Morris took out #4 seed Alber of Northern Iowa by major decision, 15-5. Morris scored 11 points in the second period, thanks to a pair of four-point near falls.

Oliver kept the Pack’s winning streak going, as he scored a takedown in all three periods and came away with a 9-5 win over #23 seed Maruca of Arizona State.

Thomas Bullard fell at 165 pounds and his twin brother Daniel fell at 174 to end their NCAA runs. Thomas fell 12-11 to #18 seed Wolf of Lehigh and Daniel lost 10-2 to #9 seed Skatzka of Minnesota.

Nick Reenan and Malik McDonald also both fell for the second time and were eliminated. Reenan 7-2 to #9 seed Venz of Nebraska, and McDonald 14-2 to #19 seed Orndorff of Utah Valley.

Up Next

NC State will have four wrestle in tonight’s Session 4, scheduled to start at 8 p.m.