Falcons fight back: Connellsville finishes 3rd at state wrestling team tournament
ALTOONA — The PIAA dual meet wrestling championships have been held for 26 years.
For the first six, Connellsville advanced to the championship final three times, which culminated with a title in 2005, but the last 19 years had the Falcons falling short of reaching the medal round.
Connellsville head coach Bill Swink and four-year senior starters Tyler Gallis, Evan Petrovich and Lonzy Vielma had reached the consolation semifinals in 2022 and last season but fell just short of earning a medal.
The Falcons exorcised the demons Saturday afternoon at Altoona Area School District Field House in placing third in the PIAA Class 3A Team Wrestling Championships.
“We lost two close ones in the consolation semifinals the last two times at the state team tournament, so we were able to get over the hump this team,” Swink said. “We have three four-year starters that were on those teams, which makes it nice to place third before their high school careers ended.”
Connellsville’s day started off shaky, as it lost to eventual champion Bethlehem Catholic, 29-23, in the semifinals. The Golden Hawks (17-0) would go on to win their fourth straight championship, but the Falcons had to regroup and get ready for a Franklin Regional team that beat them a week ago for the WPIAL championship.
Connellsville avenged the setback in the district final and defeated the Panthers, 28-22, to advance to the consolation final against Boyertown.
“We rebounded after losing to Becahi,” Swink said. “We had a chance to win against Becahi. We talked to the kids for two minutes and refocused to get ready to wrestle Franklin Regional. The kids came out and wrestled really well.
The Falcons disposed of the Bears, 37-21, and were able to bring some hardware back to Connellsville, as each individual wrestler received a medal and a team trophy was presented.
The Falcons finished the team portion of the season at 15-3.
Vielma, like all wrestlers unless your name is Cary Kolat, Chance Marsteller or Cael Sanderson, has suffered several setbacks over the course of his career in the “blood round” to determine if you place or just go home, but the senior and West Virginia University commit was proud of the effort he and his teammates gave following the loss to Bethlehem Catholic.
“We wanted to come out here and get first, but we’re big on getting the next best thing,” Vielma said. “We lost a tough one to Becahi, but we came back and wrestled really well. We avenged our loss against Franklin Regional and won against a good team in Boyerstown. To come back and take third, it will help carry momentum into next season. I think this year and last year helped get the ball rolling.”
Petrovich echoed Vielma’s comments and was glad to earn some redemption after losing to the Panthers for the WPIAL championship.
“We fell short of finishing in first place, but we came back and got the next best thing,” said Petrovich, who has committed to wrestling in college at Pitt. “To be able to come back and beat Franklin Regional was big, and it really means a lot to place third at the state tournament.”
The Golden Hawks haven’t had many close matches this season, but Connellsville gave them a battle.
The Falcons’ Zachary Franks (114) and Kai Vielma (139) won by major decision, and Julian Ruggieri (152) and Gallis (285) recorded pins. Teammate Christopher Cook earned a 10-4 decision at 215.
Connellsville used some gamesmanship in moving Petrovich and Lonzy Vielma up a weight class, but Bethlehem Catholic’s Charlie Scanlan (160) and Shane McFillin (172) earned decisions over Petrovich and Vielma.
Petrovich and Scanlan were tied at 1-1 late in the third period when Scanlan scored a takedown with two seconds remaining for a 4-1 victory. The Falcons argued that Scanlan didn’t have control but the referee’s decision was final.
Nolan Rice had a 1-0 lead with 39 seconds remaining in his match with Reef Dillard at 121, but Rice took a shot to the nose and had to call for injury time. He also needed to take blood time.
Dillard recorded a takedown and four back points with 26 seconds left for a 7-1 decision.
Connellsville didn’t let the loss deter its focus, as the Falcons came through against Franklin Regional to avenge their loss in the WPIAL final.
Connellsville had three bouts turn its way against the Panthers, which started at 107 when Tommy Gretz edged Beau Fennick, 2-1. Franks defeated Titus Colangelo, 4-2, at 114 and Ruggieri topped Max Firestine, 4-2, at 145.
Firestine had two wins over Ruggieri this season, including one by fall in the WPIAL championship, but Ruggieri was able to get some payback the third time around.
“That was a huge win for Julian,” Swink said. “We were able to come back and win three matches against Franklin Regional that we lost in the WPIAL final.”
Kai (139) and Lonzy Vielma (160), and Petrovich (152) won by technical fall, and Rice (121) by major decision against Franklin Regional.
Connellsville carried the momentum into the consolation final, where it won four of the first five bouts en route to the victory.
Ezra Gowatski (107), Franks (114) and Jake Lilley (133) won by major decision, and Daniel Smith (127) and Kai Vielma (139) recorded falls against Boyertown.
Petrovich (152) and Lonzy Vielma (160) earned victories by technical fall and Cook picked up a 4-1 decision at 215.
The Falcons will shift their focus to the individual postseason tournaments with the Section East Championships being held this upcoming Saturday at Norwin.
Vielma lauds Primus’ impact
Connellsville assistant coach Ashtin Primus was a member of the 2005 team that won the state championship, and the two-time state champion has been instrumental in the development of Lonzy Vielma.
“Ashtin and I have a really good relationship,” Vielma said. “That relationship started at the end of my freshman year when he started coming in and helping out with the coaching staff.
“Ever since then, he has been my practice partner, my coach and always someone to talk to. If I am not feeling really good about a match, he’ll hype me up. He just wants to see everyone do well, and I think that is really important in the room.”
While Vielma’s cradle is pretty solid, Primus is known for having one of the best in the history of the state, which still holds true to this day.
“I’ve been hit in a couple of his cradles,” said Vielma while laughing. “It is definitely a good cradle.”