NCAA Wrestling Championship Prediction: 157 LBS
It’s that time of the year again people! MARCH MATNESS! That’s right I said MATness, not madness. The college wrestling postseason is right around the corner and it has been one hell of a season so far. I will be doing a count down the next two weeks of my picks of which wrestler is going to take the crown at each of the 10 weight classes in Minneapolis, Minnesota March 19th – March 21st. I’m so excited people you have no idea. In this article we will take a look at who I think will be standing at the top of the podium for the 157 LB division.
Chach’s Pick: Hayden Hidlay – NC State JR
Hayden Hidlay, from the great wrestling state of Pennsylvania, is most known for being the younger brother of Ursinus football player Heath Hidlay (shout out my Alma mater, #gobears). He is currently in his junior season and currently stands in the rankings at #2 in the country. Hidlay has seen nothing but success since his redshirt freshman season where he took an undefeated record into the national finals where he ran into the absolute buzz saw that is Jason Nolf, losing 6-2. Last year I didn’t feel as though Hidlay wrestled as dominate as he did as a freshman. He finished the year with a fourth place finish at nationals losing Jason Nolf in the semi-finals in a very controversial match that many feel should have put the NC State wrestler back into the finals with what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the century. He also lost to Michigan’s Alec Pantaleo who he had beaten earlier in the tournament.
This season Hidlay’s only loss came to Ryan Deakin of Northwestern, who currently is the topped ranked wrestler at the weight, at the Las Vegas Open. I feel as though this is Hayden’s year, however. Last year at nationals he beat Deakin 8-2 in the consolation bracket. Hidlay is 26-1, undefeated all time in ACC competition and holds 93.8 winning percentage in his career. The next time the two of these wrestlers meet will be an all out war for the top of the podium. I’m taking the wolfpack on this one people. Chach out!
