Dec 8, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

Connellsville’s wrestling team dropped its season opener to Canon-McMillan, but didn’t let the setback carry over into the weekend, as the Falcons crowned three champions and finished second in the team standings at the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat Tournament on Saturday at Williamsport High School.

The Big Macs pulled off a 39-16 victory this past Thursday at Connellsville Area High School on Alumni Night, but the Falcons pulled themselves together and showed why they are considered one of the top teams in the state over the two-day tournament in Williamsport.

“When all was said and done after the match against Canon-McMillan, we just talked to the kids about being prepared, but also knowing it’s just a match in December,” Connellsville coach Bill Swink. “Individually, you can’t let a loss in December affect your future. We will keep on doing what we do and working hard. We try to keep everything in perspective.”

On Saturday, Connellsville junior and Stanford commit Kai Vielma earned a 5-2 decision over Line Mountain’s Aiden Kunes to win the championship at 145 pounds. Vielma won his first two bouts with falls in the first period before earning a 23-7 technical fall in 3:44 to advance to the final.

Vielma, who downed the Big Macs’ Collier Hartman, 7-2, in the season opener, improved to 5-0 this year. Vielma is approaching 100 career victories, as his record stands at 94-12.

Vielma, Hartman and Kunes are all ranked in the top five in the state.

“Kai has been wrestling well,” Swink said. “He wrestled guys that were No. 4 and 5 in the state this week and won both. We know that it isn’t going to get any easier for us, but we like to schedule those tough tournaments, especially early in the season.”

Tommy Gretz (121) and Luke Lilley (152) shook off setbacks from the opener to win titles at the Top Hat tournament.

“Tommy and Luke lost tough matches on Thursday, but they were able to come out and win championships at the Top Hat tournament,” Swink said. “We had to move some people around against Canon-McMillan, but we should have our lineup set at Christmas time.”

Gretz, who had to bump up to 127 against Canon-McMillan, pinned Clearfield’s Matt Rowles in 3:54 to win the championship. He won his first bout by technical fall before following with a pin in the quarterfinals and a 3-0 decision over Hazleton’s Gabe Benyo in the semifinals.

Lilley earned an 11-2 victory via major decision over Mifflinburg’s Lane Kenamond for the title. The sophomore earned decisions in the first round and semifinals, and technical falls in the round of 16 and quarterfinals.

The Falcons had 12 placewinners, as Nolan Rice (127) and Jake Lilley (160) were third, and Dan Smith was fourth at 139.

Zachary Franks (5th/121), Landon Lynn (6th/133), Roghan Hollis (6th/285), Chase Sparks (7th/139), Cooper Lembo (7th/172) and Dylan Lytle (7th/189) all reached the podium as a top-eight finisher.

Connellsville scored 204 team points. Emmaus won the title with 206 points. The Falcons didn’t have anyone entered at 107 and 114. Those weights will be filled before the new year begins.

“There is some good competition at the Top Hat tournament that we don’t normally see,” Swink said. “There is a nice mix of Triple A and Double A kids. The kids did a great job this weekend.”

Finals not kind to locals at C-H tourney

Four area wrestlers advanced to the finals of the Chartiers-Houston Invitational, but the quartet of Jefferson-Morgan’s Brayden Hanning (107) and Geno Orlandi (160), Beth-Center’s Noah Layhue (215) and West Greene’s Colin Whyte (285) all suffered setbacks and placed second.

The Rockets’ Caleb Dulaney was third at 114, and teammate Landon Heath placed fourth at 285. Albert Gallatin’s Greyson Morris finished fourth at 114.

Jefferson-Morgan’s Austin Grandel took fifth at 107. The Bulldogs’ Alex Medlen finished sixth at 121. The Pioneers’ Noah Collins placed sixth at 139.

The Colonials’ Roman Smith was sixth at 189.

Numbers continue to rise for Brownsville, LH

The Falcons and Mustangs filled all but three weight classes during Brownsville’s 50-24 non-section victory over Laurel Highlands last Tuesday at Brownsville Area High School.

Both teams are looking to reestablish their wrestling programs that had fallen under hard times, which forced the cancellation of the teams, but their stock is rising.

Brownsville earned six falls, as Geoffrey Douglas (121), Anthony Dulaney (133), Braiden Scheitlen (139), Rick Pontious (145), Devin Drake (172) and Jeff Smuzinick (215) planked their opponents.

Laurel Highlands’ Mark Reed (189) and Talib Lovett (285) won by fall.

Adam Vojacek (114) and Kody Gates (152) recorded major decisions for the home team.

The Mustangs’ Zoey Elsbury (107) and Liam Hulton (160) won by forfeit. The Falcons’ Cynseir Douglas won by forfeit at 127.