The Chartiers Valley wrestling team had three members earn places at the Powerade Christmas Tournament last year. New coach Mike Macy believes the 2007 Colts are capable of matching, if not improving, on last year's finish.

"It's a grueling weekend," said Macy, referring to the 42-teams entered in this year's tournament that gets underway tomorrow morning at Canon-McMillan High School.

"Powerade is one of the top tournaments in the country. Our guys are definately in for some great competition. Our goal is to have at least three, and hopefully four or five, placewinners."

Chartiers Valley tied for 20th in the team standings last year. The Colts top finisher was Matt Wilps, who was third at 189.

"We have 42 teams again this year," tournament director Frank Vulcano, Jr. said. "Central Dauphin has to be considered a heavy favorite to win the team title."

Central Dauphin from the Harrisburg area was second at the Beast of the East tournament earlier this season. It has two returning Powerade champions in Marshall Peppelman (130) and his brother Walt (140).

The Peppelman brothers are two of six returning Powerade champions. The others are Penn-Trafford's Shane Young, Hempfield's Nico Cortese, Sam Rakes of Christiansburg, Va., and Adam Thomas of Parkersburg, W.Va.

Other WPIAL teams in the field are Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Burgettstown, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Chartiers-Houston, Connellsville, Derry, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield, Latrobe, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Shady Side Academy, South Side Beaver, Trinity, Waynesburg, West Allegheny, West Greene.

The consolation final Saturday are scheduled for 5 p.m. with champiomship matches set for 7:30 p.m.

• Ambridge, Carlynton and Langley are entered in the 36th annual Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic at West Mifflin High School. The action begins tomorrow morning and concludes Saturday night.

Also entered in the 22-team field are: Bermudian Springs, Bethel Park, Brashear, Carlisle, Hampton, Keystone Oaks, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport, Mt. Lebanon, Penn Hills, Perry, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Shaler, South Allegheny, Steel Valley, Thomas Jefferson, Washington, and West Mifflin.

The host Titans have a pair of returning champions in Sam Sherlock (125) and James Fleming (145). Both return at the same weight.

The other three returning champions are: Bermudian Springs' Nick Blasone, South Allegheny's Dean Viehl and Brashear's Joshua Perri.

• Blackhawk is entered in the 22-team Southmoreland tournament, which began today and finishes tomorrow night.

The other 21 entries are: Avonworth, Baldwin, Bentworth, Blairsville, Cambria Heights, Central Cambria, Charleroi, Forest Hills, Fox Chapel, Gateway, Greenville, Meyersdale, Norwin, Ligonier Valley, Northern Bedford, Riverview, Southern Garrett, Southmoreland, Uniontown, Valley and West Branch, Ohio.

Eight of the teams entered have produced at least one Southmoreland individual champion. Norwin's Mike Salopek placed second at 145 in 2004, then won titles at 160 and 189 the past two years.

Jefferson-Morgan's Ethan Virgili is a two-time finalist and one time champion, both at 189. Salopek, Virgili and Charleroi's David Grillo won titles in 2005. Grillo finished seventh at 171 last year.

Forest Hills has a pair of returning champions. Dave Fogle and Tom McVicker claimed titles at 112 and 119, respectively, last season. Three other returning champions are Jefferson-Morgan's Brian Scritchfield, South Side Beaver's Dominick Demor and Cambria Heights' Glenn Winslow.

• Hopewell and Montour are entered in the Wheeling Park Duals, which begin today and conclude tomorrow night. Other WPIAL teams entered in the 32-team field are: Central Catholic, Mars, North Hills, Peters Township, Plum and Ringgold. Each team will wrestle eight, possibly nine, matches in two days.

• Moon and Butler are entered in Brockway's Big Dog Tournament, which starts tomorrow morning and finishes Saturday night. The tournament field will include 14 teams and uses a pool format.