Whyte stands tall during rough day for local wrestlers
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
CANONSBURG – Colin Whyte stands 6-2 and weighs 252 pounds. But Friday night at Canon-McMillan High School, the junior from tiny West Greene High School stood a little taller and carried himself with a little more pomp for the 2,500 fans in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament.
Whyte drew a bye in the first round, then decisioned Blake Elder of Jensen Beach Fla., 11-4. He capped the first half of the tournament with a 5-0 decision over No. 6 seed Logan Middleton to reach the quarterfinals. A much better showing than 2-2 last year.
The quarterfinals did not go well for Whyte as he was pinned by heavyweight Jacob Levy of Lake Highlands, Fla; in 1:01.
“It’s definitely a big accomplishment. But I knew I could do it,” said Whyte of the earlier bouts. “I knew if I put the best of my ability on the mat, I’d do well. I knew about him, watching film.”
Pioneers head coach Gary Whyte said Colin, “works very hard. He puts himself in good position to win. And we had to score when we got the opportunity.”
The two wins moved Whyte’s career record to 82-23. His best finish in the postseason was fourth place in the Class 2A regional tournament last year.
Now, he battles for the bronze.
Levi Yeater (152) and Noah Collins (121) were eliminated in the wrestlebacks for the Pioneers.
Collier Hartman of Canon-McMillan was eliminated in ultimate tiebreaker, 1-0. No points were scored in regulation or overtime.
“It’s a very tough tournament,” said Canon-McMillan head coach Jordun Maier. “We’re a very young team so I was hoping we’d get here and get some mat time. We’ll develop, get the right technique. We’ll mature. I felt we had to be tough and we were pretty tough.”
Brothers Bryce and Brayden Collins of Canon-McMillan had the misfortune of running into the tournament’s top seeds in their respective weight class: Bryce to Robert Kucharzyk of Lake Highlands Prep in Florida at 189. Kucharzyk won by fall by fall in 4:27. And Brayden to Jude Correa of Wyoming Seminary at 215. Correa won by fall in 1:19. Brayden is still alive for a medal.
Aidan Finnigan went 2-1 in the tournament before Robert Leeds of Germantown Academy knocked him out with a 15-0 technical fall.
Gianno Gardner (121) and Ayden Solomon (172) each won their fourth consolation round through medical forfeits for Canon-McMillan.
Brock Evans of Waynesburg went 4-1 and was holding on at 160 pounds. Evans opened with a 16-1 technical fall over Xavier Zeruth of State College and followed it with a 3-1 loss to Layden Acevida of Berks County. Evans rallied in the next round with a 9-0 victory over Jovan Vukajlovic of Hammond-Flossmer in Illinois. Evans stayed in the tournament with a win over Travis Shearer of Kiski 6-1 and a 4-2 decision over Hayden Harvey of Montoursville.
Roan Tustin saw his chance for a gold medal evaporate in the round of 16 with a pin in 5:20 by Alex Smith of Lake Highland Prep in Florida. But he’s alive for a bronze after a 9-7 decision over Harry Maltese of Fairfax, Va.