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Dec 31, 2025 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

CANONSBURG — The 59th Annual Powerade Wrestling Tournament provided plenty of challenges for the 19 WPIAL schools that competed in the two-day tournament at Canon-McMillan High School.

In what is regarded as the toughest tournament in Pennsylvania, and in the top three in the country, the Powerade field held District 7 to 14 placewinners.

One of those medalists who finished in the top eight was West Greene’s Colin Whyte, who earned fourth place in the 285-pound weight class when action concluded on Tuesday night.

Whyte, a senior who is committed to Kent State, stood on the podium for the second-straight season at the prestigious tournament. Whyte, a two-time state qualifier, was fourth in the PIAA Individual Class 2A tournament last season.

“It was a big goal of mine to place in the Powerade two years in a row,” Whyte said. “I go into every tournament looking to win, but if that doesn’t happen, you try and place as high as you can. I have been working every day to do well in every competition I am in.”

Whyte entered the tournament as the No. 7 seed and took care of business in his round-of-32 match with a fall in 2:52. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a 1-0 decision over Notre Dame Green Pond’s Noah Knorp.

Whyte dropped a 4-2 decision to eventual champion Cristian Alvarez of St. Joseph Regional, N.J., in the round-of-eight before a tight 1-0 victory over Armstrong’s Philup Rearick clinched a spot on the medal stand. Whyte escaped during the second period for a 1-0 lead and rode out Rearick in the third for the decision.

Whyte secured a 4-0 decision over Grant Silverfield of Lake Highland Prep, Fla., with a takedown in the first period and an escape in the third. He pinned AIM Academy’s Isaiah Taylor in 2:19 to advance to the consolation final. Whyte dropped a 7-3 decision to Cael Mielnik of Blair Academy, N.J., in the battle for third place.

“I think I wrestled well,” Whyte said. “I was in on some shots in my match for third place, but I wasn’t able to finish. This tournament has so many top-level guys. Every match is going to be tough. It is a great tournament for me because it can show my weaknesses and what I need to work on.”

Lake Highland Prep won the team championship with 189.5 points. Malvern Prep was second with 176.5 and Blair Academy finished third with 165.

Bishop McCort’s Jax Forrest became the seventh four-time Powerade champion with a 20-13 decision in the finals at 139. Forrest was also named the tournament’s “Outstanding Wrestler.”

Forrest’s high school teammate, Bo Bassett, was the No. 1 seed at 152 and in search of his fourth Powerade title, but he didn’t compete because of the flu.