By BRIAN CARSON

The numbers tell a story of dominance. 475 wins. 217 falls. Sixstate titles. Ten All-American honors. Two Olympic Trials place-winners. One US Open championship.

In Mifflin County’s storied wrestling history, four names rise to the granite peak of excellence: Hayden Hidlay, Trent Hidlay, Kenny Whitsel, and Joe Heller.

The Hidlay brothers transformed Mifflin County wrestling from 2013 to 2018, establishing a standard of excellence extending beyond high school accolades into NCAA and international achievements. Kenny Whitsel’s 72 falls in 108 matches speak to his physical dominance in the 1970s. Joe Heller blazed the championship trail, becoming the county’s first two-time PIAA champion.

Each wrestler’s path to greatness differed, but their impacts parallel one another – creating a Mount Rushmore worthy of permanent recognition.

Hayden Hidlay’s 149-15 high school record and PIAA championship in 2016 launched a collegiate career at NC State,where he earned five All-American honors. His 105-11 NCAA record included runner-up, third, fourth, and fifth-place finishes at nationals. The consistency at both levels separates him from many past greats.

Hayden moved like a mongoose in a phone booth – all coiled energy and sudden strikes that left opponents wondering which way was up and why their shoelaces were suddenly tied together. Trying to score on this kid was about as fruitful as trying to teach calculus to a cocker spaniel. He didn’t onlydefend; he put up a force field woven out of pure stubbornness.

Following his brother’s footsteps, Trent Hidlay compiled a 154-14 mark for the Huskies. His final two seasons showcased perfection – 81-0 without surrendering a takedown, winning two PIAA titles. The defensive masterclass continued at NC State, where his 101-12 record and four All-American finishes cemented his legacy with second, fourth, third, and second-place finishes.

Trent’s freestyle accomplishments elevate him further. A U.S. Open championship, silver medal at U-23 Worlds, runner-up finish at the World Team Trials, and third place at the Olympic Trials prove his adaptability across wrestling styles. International wins at the Bill Farrell tournament and Zagreb Open round out an expansive resume.

Forget the fancy technique, the ballet on the mat some guys try. Trent wrestles like a cornered Wolverine defending its last pork chop. He doesn’t shoot for a takedown; he looks like he’s trying to excavate the poor slob right through the floorboards. All-American? Yeah, about as many times as you or I have had breakfast. The kid collected those honors, like parking tickets.

He brought a certain beautiful violence to it; a controlled mayhem that made you wince and cheer at the same time. Chiseling his face up there wouldn’t just be an honor; it’d be a warning sign to anyone thinking Mifflin County wrestling was only a nice hobby.

Kenny Whitsel’s name echoes through District 6 lore. From 1976 to 79, he captured four district titles and remains the sole wrestler to win Outstanding Wrestler all four years. His 103-5 record included 72 falls – a pin percentage of 67%, highlighting his aggressive style. The Lewistown legend claimed gold at states in 1978.

Joe Heller’s impact ripples across decades. Wrestling for Chief Logan from 1976 to 79, he posted a 69-10 record. But numbers fail to capture his revolutionary achievement – becoming Mifflin County’s first two-time state champion. His 54-1 record over his final two seasons set a standard for sustained excellence.

The credentials stack like medals in a trophy case. Four wrestlers. Four distinct eras. Four lasting legacies.

Hayden Hidlay mastered the chess match aspects of wrestling. His ability to control positions and capitalize on minimal openings produced consistent results against elite competition. The ACC championships and All-American finishes prove his tactical approach worked at every level.

Trent Hidlay’s defensive prowess changed matches before they began. Opponents knew takedowns proved nearly impossible, forcing them into conservative game plans. His freestyle success shows evolution beyond scholastic and collegiate styles.

Kenny Whitsel’s pins jump off the page. In an era of slower-paced matches, he attacked relentlessly. The four Outstanding Wrestler awards at districts showcase his ability to dominate the region’s best competition.

Whitsel had feet quicker than a pickpocket working a crowded subway car. You’d lean on him, thinking you had the upper hand, maybe admiring the architecture of the gymnasium ceiling, and *WHAM!* Faster than a toupee in a hurricane, he’d snap on that headlock. And brother, that wasn’t some friendly hug gone wrong. It was like getting your neck introduced to a boa constrictor with a bad attitude and a mortgage payment due.

He could slap that thing on from outer space, seemingly. One second, you’re wrestling; the next, you’re contemplating the choices that led you to this exact moment, staring up at the lights with Whitsel attached to your skull like an unwelcome barnacle. Devastating? It was less a wrestling move and more like a sudden, unscheduled meeting with the chiropractor, the undertaker, and your ancestors all at once. Quick, brutal, and about as subtle as a dropped anvil. That headlock wasn’t a weapon; it was his personal exclamation point on the sentence,“You lose.”

Joe Heller carried the pressure of pursuing something never accomplished. His two state titles opened doors for future champions, proving Mifflin County wrestlers could reach Pennsylvania’s pinnacle. The 54-1 record over two years shows his mental fortitude matched his physical skills.

Heller wasn’t about the flashy stuff, the pretzel twists that make the crowd ooh and ahh. Nah, Heller was pure, distilled leverage and grit. He was part of that original recipe, the primordial soup from which all that subsequent mat-based mayhem emerged. Trying to get out from under him was less a wrestling move and more an escape act worthy of Houdini, only with more bruises and fewer rabbits.

Forget blueprints; guys like Heller built the program with calloused hands, maybe a few choice words that could peel paint, and the sheer, unadulterated stubbornness that seems to beMifflin County’s chief export right alongside tough wrestlers. He wasn’t just on the ground floor; he was probably digging the basement with his bare hands.

The Hidlay brothers’ combined high school record of 303-29 with 145 falls established a new benchmark for excellence. Their NCAA achievements – 206-23 overall, ten All-American honors, multiple ACC titles – elevate Mifflin County’s wrestling reputation nationally.

Whitsel’s combination of district dominance and bonus-point victories created a blueprint for aggressive success. His 72 falls in 108 matches meant opponents spent more time looking at arena lights than wrestling on their feet.

Heller’s breakthrough state championships inspired generations. His winning percentage over his final two seasons (.982) stands among Pennsylvania’s best two-year runs. The gold medals hang in history as symbols of possibility.

Time separates these wrestlers, but similarities bind them. All four claimed multiple district titles. Their combined winning percentage (.907) spans different eras but reflects consistent dominance.

The Hidlay brothers brought national attention through NCAA and international success. Whitsel owned his district like no wrestler before or since. Heller kicked down the door to state championships.

Modern statistics and old newspaper clippings tell the same story – these four wrestlers separated themselves from their peers. Their achievements stand eternal, carved into Mifflin County’s wrestling history like faces on a mountain.

But beyond statistics lie lasting impacts. The Hidlay brothers proved Mifflin County wrestlers could compete anywhere. Whitsel showed dominance through aggression pays dividends. Heller showed state titles were possible through dedication.

Four wrestlers. Four unique paths to excellence. One Mount Rushmore of Mifflin County wrestling legends. Their faces belong together, overlooking the valley where their legacies began and continue inspiring new generations to reach similar heights.

The debate ends here. Hayden Hidlay, Trent Hidlay, Kenny Whitsel, and Joe Heller – Mifflin County’s wrestling Mount Rushmore stands complete. Their achievements echo through time, their impacts resonate in every practice room, and their examples light the path for future champions.

The mountain awaits its next legendary face. But for now, these four reign supreme – a quartet of excellence spanning five decades of Mifflin County wrestling history.