By BRIAN CARSON​

LAS VEGAS – Trent Hidlay stormed through the 92kg bracket at The Expo World Market Center in Las Vegas, securing his first U.S. Open championship and a spot in Final X. The Mifflin County native showcased his offensive prowess with two technical falls before grinding out close victories in the semifinals and finals.

In his opening matches, Hidlay overwhelmed his opponents with a combination of takedowns and gut wrenches. He dispatched Braden Homsey in 1:35 with an 11-0 technical fall, stringing together a series of two-point moves and a step out. Against Kalob Runyon in the quarterfinals, Hidlay needed only 1:49 to secure another technical fall, capping off the performance with a four-point lateral drop.

The semifinal match against fourth-seeded Eric Schultz presented a different challenge. Hidlay controlled the match through positioning and pressure, building an early lead through step-outs and passivity points. After going up 3-0 in the first period, he traded scores with Schultz in the second frame to secure a 7-4 victory.

“Shultz was very strong and was a worthy opponent,” Hidlay said. “It wasn’t my best match, but I was able to grind through and get the win. At this level, getting the win and moving on is the most important part.”

The championship match against Aeoden Sinclair saw Hidlay return to his offensive game plan. He scored an early takedown from an underhook position and added a gut wrench to build a 5-0 first-period advantage. The second period became a positioning battle, with both wrestlers forcing step-outs to reach the final score of 7-1.

“Sinclair is very skilled,” Hidlay noted. “He has a great arm drag and snatch single series. He can score in multiple ways and is a gamer.”

Throughout the tournament, Hidlay’s underhook attacks proved effective, particularly in his early matches, where he created scoring opportunities from this position. His ability to chain wrestle and transition between attacks kept opponents defensive and created openings for his explosive moves.

The victory marks a significant milestone in Hidlay’s career, earning him his first berth in Final X, where he’ll compete for a spot on the World Team. The tournament win builds on his previous freestyle success and positions him among the top contenders at 92kg.

“I thought I wrestled pretty well. I was able to get the win, andthat is the most important part,” Hidlay said. “I don’t think it was my best wrestling, but it got the job done!”

Looking ahead, Hidlay plans to focus on expanding his offensive arsenal. “In the next few weeks, I’d like to get back to training and continue developing my offense a bit more. Those small adjustments will help me as I get ready and try to make the world team in June.”

The tournament atmosphere included strong family support for Hidlay, who acknowledged their presence as a motivating factor. “It was amazing having my family there supporting me the whole weekend. I feel so blessed to be supported by so many.”

His path through the bracket revealed both technical skill and tactical awareness. When the opportunity presented itself for quick technical falls, Hidlay capitalized with aggressive offense. In tighter matches, he demonstrated patience and strategic point-scoring, adapting his approach based on his opponents’ styles.

“It feels great to break through and make Final X for the first time,” Hidlay said. “It’s a big deal to win the U.S. Open, and I am proud of the effort I competed with. There was a ton of work put in to win this tournament and I’m glad I can finish as the champ.”

The championship performance included three step-out points in the finals, highlighting Hidlay’s ability to use pressure and positioning to force opponents out of bounds when direct scoring opportunities didn’t present themselves. This strategic awareness, combined with his explosive offensive capabilities, made him a challenging matchup throughout the bracket.

Hidlay’s tournament run included:

– First Round: Bye

– Second Round: 11-0 technical fall over Braden Homsey (1:35)

– Quarterfinals: 10-0 technical fall over Kalob Runyon (1:49)

– Semifinals: 7-4 decision over Eric Schultz

– Finals: 7-1 decision over Aeoden Sinclair

His focus now shifts to preparation for Final X, where he’ll look to build on this performance and secure a spot on the World Team. The combination of dominant technical falls and strategic victories in Las Vegas shows his readiness for the next challenge in his wrestling career.

Final X is set for June 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

2025 US Open Freestyle Finals

57kg: Luke Lilledahl TF Liam Cronin, 10-0 (2:45)

61kg: Jax Forrest TF Seth Gross, 19-8 (5:35)

65kg: Joey McKenna dec. Jesse Mendez, 3-2

70kg: Yianni Diakomihalis dec. James Green, 8-2

74kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink TF David Carr, 16-6 (5:32)

79kg: Evan Wick dec. Dean Hamiti, 9-1

86kg: Zahid Valencia dec. Kyle Dake, 8-4

92kg: Trent Hidlay dec. Aeoden Sinclair, 7-1

97kg: Kyle Snyder TF Jonathan Aiello, 11-0 (3:19)

125kg: Wyatt Hendrickson TF Demetrius Thomas, 14-3 (3:51)