The Powerade holiday wrestling tournament will celebrate its 40th anniversary with its biggest field of teams.

"We've pushed it to the limit," said tournament director Frank Vulcano, Jr. "We're having 40 teams for the first time. We had 38 last year and decided to add two teams this year. But 40 is the most we can handle."

The Powerade tournament will be held at Canon-McMillan High School for the fourth consecutive year, with opening rounds beginning Dec. 29. The tournament concludes the following day. A new team champion will be crowned.

"Moeller decided not to come back this year," said Vulcano. "But we have two other out-of-state teams replacing them."

Kellam High, a third-place finisher in last year's Virginia Class AAA state tournament, and New Jersey's Southern Regional are the new out-of-state teams.

Also making the trip from Virginia are Christiansburg, the Class AA champion; Cox, the Class AAA runner-up; and Colonial Forge, the Class AAA fourth-place finisher.

Other out-of-state teams entered in the 40-team field are: Canandaiqua (New York), Mt. St. Joseph (Maryland), Parkersburg (West Virginia), Solon (Ohio), and Walsh Jesuit (Ohio).

Fox Chapel, Pine-Richland and Shaler are the local teams in this year's field.

"We had one place-winner last year and had a pretty good showing overall," said Pine-Richland coach Tom McGarity, referring to the Rams' debut at Powerade last year. "A tournament of this talent level is what we need to become a better team. Our goal is to eventually become one of the top teams at Powerade."

The other WPIAL entries are Albert Gallatin, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Chartiers-Houston, Chartiers Valley, Connellsville, Derry Area, Fox Chapel, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Keystone Oaks, Latrobe, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Shaler, Trinity, Waynesburg, and West Greene.

Other teams from Pennsylvania include Blue Mountain (District 11), Cedar Cliff (3), Central Dauphin (3), Council Rock North (1), DuBois (9), Emmaus (11), Fort LeBoeuf (10), Indian Valley (6), North Star (5), and State College (6).

"At this point, it's too early to predict a team champion," said Vulcano. "There are at least a dozen teams that have a legitimate shot of winning the team title."

Returning to this year's tournament are: eight individual champions, five runners-up, and a total of 45 place-winners.

"We have 13 individuals entered in this year's tournament who won a state title last year," said Vulcano. "And some of them will be in the same weight class. Not many tournaments can say that."

Returning champions from the WPIAL include Canon-McMillan's Colin Johnston, at 112, Derry Area's Troy Dolan, at 119, Trinity's Grant Lowther, at 125, West Greene's Kory Bissett, at 135, and Fox Chapel's Brian Letters, at 152.

DeAugustino Classic

Hampton, Perry and Seneca Valley are entered in the Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic, which will be held at West Mifflin High School on Dec. 29-30.

"I like to be in a tournament over the holidays because we would go more than two weeks without a competition," said Hampton coach Joe Bursick. "Our goal as a team is to finish among the top five."

Also entered in the 20-team field are defending team champion Bermudian Springs, Bethel Park, Brashear, Cameron, W.Va., Carlynton, Franklin Regional, Langley, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport, Moon, Mt. Lebanon, South Allegheny, Steel Valley, Thomas Jefferson, Washington, West Mifflin and Wheeling C.C., W.Va.

Bermudian Springs is once again the team to beat. The Eagles had five wrestlers in the finals last year and four were underclassmen. Bryce Marshall, at 119, is the Eagles' lone returning champion.

Southmoreland Classic<</STRONG>
P> Defending team champion Greenville is once again the team to beat at the Southmoreland Holiday Classic beginning Dec. 28, as two of its three individual champions are back.

Eric Weaver won the 135-pound title and Justin Ferguson claimed the 140-pound crown.

Norwin also has a pair of returning champions. Dennis Fix won the 135-pound title as a sophomore, then captured the 145-pound crown last season. Knights teammate Mike Salopek won the 160-pound title last year.

Blairsville's Matt Moore is also a two-time returning champion. Moore has won titles at 140 and 160.

Other returning champions are: Musselman's Dustin Haislip, at 125, Charleroi's David Grillo, at 171, and Jefferson-Morgan's Ethan Virgili, at 189. South Side Beaver's John Prezzia won at 103 last year, but is currently out with an injury.

Also entered the 30-team field are Avonworth, Apollo-Ridge, Ambridge, Baldwin, Bentworth, Blackhawk, Central Cambria, Charleroi, DeSales (Ohio), Forest Hills, Gateway, Hickory, Jeannette, Ligonier Valley, Meyersdale, Mount Union, Riverview, Southern Garrett (Md.), Southmoreland, South Park, Uniontown, West Branch, Woodland Hills and Yough.