This summer he competed in the Greco-Roman and Freestyle competition as a member of the Minnesota Storm Wrestling Club. The accumulation of points earned through these tournaments and from the Minnesota State High School League tournament in March, decide who is “wrestler of the year.” Hiltner earned 85 points this summer. The second place finisher, Dustin Darveaux, Pipestone-Jasper, had accumulated 68 points. Finishing tenth was Bard Ackerman, Litchfield.
Hiltner placed second in the state competition at heavyweight and wrestled either at 190 or 220 pounds this summer depending on the tournament. He finished first in every tournament except at the nationals in Fargo, N.D. on July 19. He competed in the Northern Plains freestyle and greco tournament, state freestyle and greco, freestyle and greco trials and nationals. At the nationals, he finished fifth in the freestyle event and seventh in the Greco-Roman competition. Hiltner earned All-American honors in both events.
A 1997 Paynesville Area High School graduate, Hiltner is attending the University of Wyoming-Laramie, this year on a wrestling scholarship. He is the son of Sylvester and Linda Hiltner, rural Belgrade.