Dec 4, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE — In an early season showdown between two of the most storied wrestling programs in the WPIAL and state, Canon-McMillan spoiled Connellsville’s Alumni Night celebration with a 39-16 victory on Thursday at Connellsville Area High School.

The Big Macs, who dropped their opener to Norwin (31-24) on Tuesday at home, won their first four bouts for a 16-0 lead, and were never in danger against last year’s state bronze medalist.

Canon-McMillan’s Isaac Hrelec won by forfeit at 107 before Parker Kolarcik earned a 12-1 major decision at 114 for a 10-0 lead.

Big Mac freshman Lee Dreshman downed senior and state qualifier Zachary Franks, 4-1, at 121 to increase his team’s advantage to 13-0.

Giono Gardner scored a late takedown to edge Tommy Gretz, 6-4, at 127 for a 16-0 lead. Gretz placed sixth in the state last season.

“We know Lee Dreshman is a gamer,” Canon-McMillan coach Jurdon Maier said. “We had to plan to move him up as soon as we got here, and it was kind of his first real test at varsity, and I think he passed. We were able to pull out some close ones.”

The Falcons’ Nolan Rice won by forfeit at 133, but Jon Emma earned five team points for the visitors with a 20-5 technical fall in 4:13 at 139 for a 21-6 advantage.

Connellsville’s Kai Vielma scored two takedowns and allowed two escapes for a solid victory over Collier Hartman at 145 in a battle of returning state medalists to cut the deficit to 21-9.

“I think Collier and Kai was the marquee matchup,” Maier said. “We wanted it, and I’m sure they wanted it. I think they are the top two guys in the state at their weight class. I’m sure they are going to see each other a few more times this year.”

Vielma, a junior who has committed to Stanford, was third in the state last year at 139, while Hartman, a senior who will wrestle for the Naval Academy, was fourth at 133.

Falcons coach Bill Swink didn’t have much to smile about following the dual meet, but he was pleased with Vielma’s match.

“Kai wrestled well against a tough kid in Hartman,” Swink said. “Unfortunately, in those close matches that we lost, we started ahead but kind of faded. It looked like we didn’t have much energy out there tonight, and that is not what we stride for. The good news for us is that it’s only one match, and this will not define our season. We have the Top Hat tournament this weekend, so we better be ready to go.”

Mason Calgaro edged Luke Lilley, 5-3, at 152 to restore the Big Macs’ 15-point lead.

The Falcons’ Jake Lilley won by major decision (13-3) at 160 before Cooper Lembo edged John Hunter, 1-0, at 172 to pull the home team within eight with three bouts remaining, but Bryce Collins clinched the dual meet for Canon-McMillan with a 17-1 technical fall in 3:26 at 189.

“Jake and Cooper wrestled well tonight,” Swink said. “We had to move some people around tonight, which weren’t the ideal matchups, but you have to go out there and be ready to compete.”

The Big Macs’ Brayden Collins (215) won by fall and teammate Owen Rush (285) earned a 10-0 major decision.

“Connellsville is a top team,” Maier said. “They were ranked fourth in the state coming into today. I’ll be surprised if we are not wrestling them again in February.

“We fell short on Tuesday against Norwin, who is ranked ninth in the state. I told our team, ‘Hey, we faced adversity, we have two options: Either shut down or come and get it back tonight, which our guys did.’ We want the toughest matches, and we are here to scrap.”