Nine matches in two days.

That's what the wrestling teams from Peters Township, Ringgold, Mars and Central Catholic high schools will experience at the Wheeling Park (W.Va.) Duals, which will be contested Wednesday and Thursday.

"It's brutal," said Peters Township coach Dale Murdock. "Nine matches in two days is a lot of wrestling in a short period of time."

This year's tournament field includes more than 30 teams.

"Some of the best teams in West Virginia and Ohio are in this tournament," Murdock said. "It may be tough on the kids, but we're a young team and what we need the most is experience."

Murdock isn't expecting to win many matches. "We are forfeiting 112, 125 and 145 all year," he said. "It's hard to win when you're trailing 18-0 before the match begins."

Charleroi, Bentworth in tournament

Charleroi Area and Bentworth are among 30 teams entered in the seventh annual Southmoreland Holiday Classic, which will run Thursday and Friday.

"I think we've been coming to this tournament since it started," said Charleroi coach Greg Doerfler. "It's well run and has good competition, but not loaded like the Powerade Tournament. They have a good mix of Class AAA and AA teams and a few out-of-state teams."

Defending champion Greenville is the team to beat, 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 out with an injury.

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

Wash High in DeAugustino

Washington is one of 20 teams entered in the 35th annual Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic, which begins Thursday at West Mifflin. The Little Prexies finished among the top five in the standings in their past two appearances there.

"Bermudian Springs is once again the team to beat," said West Mifflin coach Tony Salopek. "The Eagles had five wrestlers in the finals last year and four were underclassmen."

Washington, West Mifflin and defending champ Bermudian Springs will be joined by Bethel Park, Brashear, Cameron, W.Va., Carlynton, Franklin Regional, Hampton, Langley, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport, Moon, Mt. Lebanon, Perry, Seneca Valley, South Allegheny, Steel Valley, Thomas Jefferson and Wheeling (W.Va.) Central Catholic.

Washington is led by Alex Evans, a returning champion who has made two straight appearances in the finals.

Six area teams in Powerade

Canon-McMillan, Chartiers-Houston, McGuffey, Trinity, Waynesburg Central and West Greene are entered in the 40th Annual Powerade Christmas Tournament, which will be held Friday and Saturday.

"The thing I like the most about the Powerade is that it gives us our first look at the best local teams," said Waynesburg coach John Yates.

"We also enjoy the great competition we get from the out-of-state teams."

The Powerade Tournament will be at Canon-McMillan for the fourth consecutive year. A new team champion will be crowned, as Moeller of Cincinnati has pulled out, but the tournament is certainly not short on talent.

"Hempfield has to be considered one of the favorites for the team title," said Yates. "The co-op with Greensburg Central Catholic has solidified their lineup. They will be tough to beat in the WPIAL."

Kellam High, a third-place finisher in last year's Virginia Class AAA 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 champ; 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).

The other WPIAL entries are: Albert Gallatin, Burrell, Char-tiers Valley, Connellsville, Derry, Fox Chapel, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Keystone Oaks, Latrobe, Mount Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Shaler.

Other teams from Pennsylvania are: Blue Mountain, Cedar Cliff, Central Dauphin, Council Rock North, DuBois, Emmaus, Ft. LeBoeuf, Indian Valley, North Star and State College.

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 are: 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.