NC State’s Hidlay Falls in NCAA Semifinals to #1 Nolf 3-2, Still Has Chance for 3rd

PITTSBURGH, PA. – Advancing to the NCAA Semifinals for the second straight year, R-So. Hayden Hidlay’s run to a championship came to an end after a highly-contested 3-2 loss to top-seeded Jason Nolf of Penn State.

Hidlay will be the lone NC State representative in action today.

In the Blood Round, R-Sr. Sean Fausz (125 pounds) and R-So. Tariq Wilson (133) both fell one win shy of All-American honors.

NC State Saturday Matchups – Session 5

CONS. SEMIFINALS

157: Bout #590 – #5 seed Hayden Hidlay (23-3) vs. #3 seed Ryan Deakin (Northwestern – 33-5)

Semifinals Recap

As the first period was winding down, Hidlay was awarded a takedown with four seconds left, but after a long video review by the officials, the call was overturned and the first 3:00 was scoreless. Nolf started the second with an escape, then secured the bout’s lone takedown. Hidlay scored the escape and then started the third with an escape to close the gap to 3-2. The period went on, and Hidlay was in on a late shot, but his takedown came as the period expired.

Hidlay will be in action this afternoon, wrestling in the consolation semifinals and then in a placement bout.

With his quarterfinal victory yesterday, Hidlay became only the third wrestler in NC State school history to become an All-American as both a freshman and sophomore.

Blood Round Recap

Fausz fell to #8 seed Arujau of Cornell, 11-3. He ends his Wolfpack career a four-time NCAA Qualifier and four-time ACC Finalist.

In one of the most exciting bouts of the night, Wilson fell in extra time to #8 seed Erneste of Missouri, 9-7. Wilson scored an early takedown and racked up 2:54 of ride time in the first period. Wilson started the second with another takedown, but Erneste reversed it and got a four-point near fall to take a 6-4 lead into the third. Wilson then scored a takedown with 19 seconds left and locked up riding time, but Erneste was awarded an escape with one second left. After no score in the first OT, Erneste earned a takedown with just one second left in the second period of OT for the win.