Hang another banner: Falcons win section title with 51-15 win over Hempfield

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The Falcons’ Evan Petrovich positions Hempfield’s Giovanni Caruso for a second period fall at 145 pounds in Wednesday’s Section 4-AAA match at Connellsville.

Jim Downey

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Referee Chris Edenfield keeps a close eye as the Falcons’ Nicholas Rohal attempts to power Hempfield’s Nicholas Marquis to his back in the first period of the 172-pound bout in Wednesday’s Section 4-AAA match at Connellsville. Rohal won by fall at 2:52.

Jim Downey

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Referee Chris Edenfield gets ready to call the pin in the second period as the Falcons’ Kai Vielma pushes Brody Wilson’s shoulders to the mat in the 133-pound bout in Wednesday’s Section 4-AAA match at Connellsville. Vielma recorded the fall at 3:59.

Jim Downey

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Hempfield’s Pierce Turner is unable to escape from the Falcons’ Lonzy Vielma in the 160-pound bout during Wednesday’s Section 4-AAA match at Connellsville. Vielma recorded the fall at 3:55.

Jim Downey

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CONNELLSVILLE – The Connellsville wrestling team took care of business Wednesday night in front of a large, loud home crowd with the Falcons cruising to a 51-15 victory in Section 4-AAA action against visiting Hempfield.

Connellsville (4-0, 9-2) didn’t lose a section match to secure yet another section crown. Hempfield (3-8) and Latrobe also earned berths into next week’s Class AAA team playoffs.

“It’s just the first step. You want to win WPIAL titles and state titles,” said Connellsville coach Bill Swink.

Connellsville now prepares for a run through the WPIAL team tournament..Swink explained it will be business as usual preparing for the playoffs.

“It’s going to be energy, attitude and effort. That’s what it’s going to be. It’s a continuation of what it’s been all season. It’s a process,” said Swink, adding, “Every day you want to get better. That’s always the goal.”

The Falcons opened the match at 215 pounds with Chris Cook making quick work of his bout against Brayton Owen with a pin in 48 seconds.

Tyler Gallis received a forfeit at 285 pounds for a 12-0 lead.

The Falcons’ Tommy Gretz gave top-ranked Nico Kapusta all he wanted in the 107-pound bout with Kapusta fighting for an 8-5 decision.

Connellsville’s Nolan Rice bumped up to 114 pounds against Nathan Caracciolo. Rice trailed 2-0 in the third period, but Caracciolo was hit with two stalling points to tie the match.

However, Carrocciolo scored three points right before the buzzer sounded for a 5-2 win.

“I wanted Tommy to wrestle. Landon (Lynn) is out this week, so we moved Nolan up.

Tommy wrestled well. Nolan, I think he’s better than he showed today,” said Swink.

The Falcons’ Zach Franks responded with a first-period pin against Ty King at 121 pounds.

Connellsville’s Chase Sparks fell behind in the first period and wasn’t able to recover in a 7-2 loss at 127 pounds to Jacob Halsted.

The Falcons’ Kai Vielma led his 133-pound bout 14-0 when he was finally able to get Brody Wilson on his back with just one second left in the second period for a 24-9 lead.

Julian Ruggieri secured a 6-3 decision at 139 pounds, and Evan Petrovich won his 145-pound bout with a pin at 2:22.

The Spartans’ Eli Carr stopped the point run at 152 pounds with his first-period pin against Carter Wilson.

“Their 52-pounder is pretty good. I thought Carter went out and battled him,” said Swink.

Connellsville closed out the win with pins from Lonzy Vielma (160) and Nick Rohal (172), and Cooper Lembo received a forfeit at 189 pounds.