King Kai
Falcons’ Vielma becomes 15th state champion in program history
HERSHEY — While the majority of those in attendance at the Giant Center were focused on the Class 2A finals match between Bishop McCort phenom Bo Bassett and Montgomery’s Brandt Harer, the crowd dressed in Connellsville’s school colors, and those back home at The Paint Room Bar and Grill, could care less, as Falcon junior Kai Vielma was on his way to winning the 15th state championship in program history on Saturday night in the PIAA Class 3A Individual Wrestling Championships.
For those keeping score, Bassett won by fall in 2:49 to clinch his third state championship and finish his high school career at 170-0. The Crusaders were banned from postseason competition Bassett’s freshman season.
Harer’s accolades aren’t too shabby, either, as he finished high school with a state record of 214 victories against three losses, and was a two-time state champion.
The PIAA normally begins the finals at the lightest weight class and works up to the heaviest, but there can be changes, which was the case this year with the Bassett and Harer matchup.
Vielma didn’t care when he was wrestling, as long as he could make his dream come true of winning a state championship, which he accomplished in a 4-0 decision over Central Mountain’s Aiden Kunes in the Class 3A finals at 145 pounds.
“I found out this morning that they were changing the order of the finals matches and I was going last, but I really didn’t care about that one way or another,” Vielma said. “I knew the majority of the crowd would be tuned into the Bo Bassett match, but that was obviously the furthest thing from my mind, and I knew the people who really care for me would be in my corner like they have been since Day 1. It just means so much to be a state champion forever.”
Vielma defeated Kunes (41-3, 114-30) for the third time this season. He won the Tom Best Memorial Top Hat Tournament at Williamsport High School on Dec. 6 with a 5-2 decision over Kunes before downing the junior again in the PIAA Class 3A West Regional Championships on Feb. 28 at Canon-McMillan High School.
Despite all three matches being decisions, Vielma was never taken down by Kunes, and felt in control of all three bouts. Kunes’ only losses this season came against Vielma.
“I knew the whole time I was going to win, and I’m not saying that to be cocky, but I felt confident in my skills and my talent, and I trusted my coaches, and I have been working for this moment my entire life,” Vielma said. “I was being opportunistic, and I didn’t want to take any bad shots. Every shot I took was a quality shot. You never want to put yourself in a bad position, especially in this type of match.”
In Saturday’s final, Vielma broke through after no points were scored in the first two periods. Vielma rode out Kunes for two minutes in the second. He scored an escape four seconds into the third and secured a takedown with 1:02 remaining to clinch the decision and ensure another name would be added to the championship banner inside the gymnasium at Connellsville Area High School.
“It (winning the state championship) hasn’t fully hit me yet,” Vielma said. “I am so excited right now. I controlled the match and was tough on top,” Vielma said. “He (Kunes) is a high-level wrestler who is going to the Air Force, so I knew it wouldn’t be a blowout.”
There are always unique celebrations at the state tournament, especially in the finals, and while Vielma was excited and let out a huge roar while pointing to his supporters in the stands, he didn’t perform a flip or tackle anyone on his coaching staff, but he did make sure to go into the crowd and see his family.
“I am so glad my brother, Lonzy, was here to see me,” Vielma said. “He came from college at WVU to see me, so that was special.”
The Stanford commit doesn’t plan to rest on his laurels, and he is already looking to repeat as state champion, which he would share with Falcons assistant coach Ashtin Primus, who won back-to-back gold medals in 2005 and 2006. Primus holds the program record for career victories with 179.
Vielma was 51-3 this season to increase his career total to 140-15.
“I set a program single-season record for wins this year,” Vielma said. “I just need to get 40 wins to beat Coach, but I don’t care about that. I am just super happy about this medal.”
Jared Keslar was the last Connellsville wrestler to earn a state championship, as he accomplished the feat in 2022 at 160 pounds.