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Dec 30, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

CANONSBURG — It is challenging to find a sport as humbling as wrestling, and Monday’s quarterfinals in the 59th Annual Powerade Wrestling Tournament proved that sentiment, as four area wrestlers were denied a spot in the semifinals.

Connellsville led the way with three in the quarterfinals, but Nolan Rice, Tommy Gretz and Kai Vielma suffered setbacks to fall into the sixth round of consolations.

West Greene’s Colin Whyte also lost his bout in the round-of-eight.

The good news for the local quartet is that they can wrestle back for as high as third place, but must win their matches in the blood round to earn a spot on the podium, as the top eight in their respective weight classes.

“You have to wrestle well and can’t have any mistakes at this tournament,” Connellsville coach Bill Swink said. “We have to come out ready to go tomorrow. We will talk to the kids a little bit, the coaches will watch some film, and hopefully, our kids will be ready to wrestle.”

Vielma was one victory shy of guaranteeing himself a spot on the podium as a top-eight finisher in dropping a 14-3 major decision to Tyler Traves of Mountain View, Va., in the 145-pound weight class.

Vielma, a junior and Stanford commit, was in on plenty of shots, but Traves was able to scramble out of danger and sealed the match in the third period with a takedown and four near-fall points.

“You have to finish when you get in on a good shot,” Swink said.

Vielma won his round-of-32 bout with a fall in 1:36 before earning a 10-4 decision in the round-of-16 for his 99th career victory. Traves denied Vielma the milestone win.

Gretz dropped a 4-0 decision at 121 to DuBois’ Mateo Gallegos to fall into the sixth round of consolations. Gretz defeated Notre Dame Green Pond’s Cole Schwartz, 5-0, in the round-of-32 and edged Cade Collins of Southern Regional, N.J., 4-2 to advance to the round-of-eight.

Rice lost a 4-2 decision to Penns Valley’s Max Dinges in the quarterfinals at 127. Rice won his first match over Altoona’s Deklan Barr by default in the round-of-32. Rice had a 1-0 lead when the match ended. He scored a reversal in the third period and hung on for a 2-0 decision over Abington Heights’ Brady Full in the round-of-16.

Whyte dropped a 4-2 decision to Cristian Alvarez of St. Joseph Regional, N.J., at 285.

He opened his tournament with a fall in 2:52 and edged Notre Dame Green Pond’s Noah Knorp, 1-0, in the round-of-16.