High school wrestling teams will be on the mat a little less often this season.

The PIAA has adopted a winter sports schedule that begins one week later, due in part to the length of the fall sports seasons.

In response to the change, the PIAA Wrestling Steering Committee cut two competition points from its schedule. That means schools have only 22 scheduling points available for dual meets and tournaments.

The WPIAL Wrestling Steering Committee kept its section alignment, but cut the number of section matches by dividing each section into two sub-sections.

"We've beefed up our schedule this year," Bethel Park coach Bob Stewart said. "We have fewer matches, but were able to pick up another tournament. We're going to the Powerade Tournament for the first time since the 1970s."

The section dual-meet schedule will conclude on Jan. 21 with a four-team playoff in each section to determine playoff seeding. The top two finishers from each sub-section will face off in a semifinal round at a site to be determined. A championship match and third-place consolation will also be wrestled that night, and neither round will count against the 22-point cutoff because it's designated as a qualifying round in the WPIAL team tournament.

The four teams from each section playoff will also be invited to the WPIAL team tournament, which will take place the following week.

The prior setup had only the top three teams from each section qualifying. That means 20 teams will participate in the Class AAA tournament.

The alignment in Section 4-AAA is the same except for the addition of South Allegheny.

The Gladiators moved up from Class AA due to its co-operative agreement with Serra Catholic.

Bethel Park, Baldwin, Central Catholic, South Allegheny, Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin are in Sub-section 4A, while McGuffey, Peters Township, Ringgold, Waynesburg Central and Upper St. Clair are in Sub-section 4B.

The alignment in Section 5-AAA and Section 2-AAA are the same.

Chartiers Valley, Mt. Lebanon, Canon-McMillan, Montour and Trinity have been placed in Sub-section 5B. Ambridge, Blackhawk, Hopewell, Moon and West Allegheny are in Sub-section 5-A.

Elizabeth Forward, McKeesport, Greensburg Salem, Hempfield and Norwin are in Sub-section 2B. Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Connellsville, Laurel Highlands and Uniontown are in Sub-section 2A.

Bethel Park captured its first section title last year. The Black Hawks enter this season with even higher hopes, as they are No. 2 in the WPIAL Class AAA preseason rankings.

"Our football team won its first WPIAL title a couple weeks ago," Stewart said. "We're hoping the wrestling team can follow suit and win its first WPIAL title."

Bethel Park has 10 starters back from last season, including eight who had 20 or more wins. Add to that two returning starters from the 2006-07 squad who did not wrestle last year and you've got one of the strongest lineups in the WPIAL.

"Jordan Bonham had a 30-10 record as a 135-pound sophomore, but missed last season with an injury," Stewart said. "Cory DelMastro is also back. Cory won 59 matches during his freshman and sophomore seasons, but decided not to wrestle last season. It really helps to have Jordan and Cory back."

Bethel Park's lineup features two PIAA place-winners. Mike Ganley (36-8 at 145) placed sixth in the state, while Nick Bonaccorsi (35-9 at 152) placed eighth in his weight class. Ganley is a junior who has 53 career wins; Bonaccorsi is a sophomore.

"We will be a little short-handed this weekend, as five members of our team are still playing football," Stewart said. "I'm happy the football team is doing so well. I hope they win the state title."

Bethel Park opens its season at the 21-team Eastern Area Invitational, which will take place this weekend at Gateway High School. The Black Hawks will have only 12 entries, as they have nobody to fill the 215 and 285-pound weight classes.

"We'll survive until they get back," Stewart said.

Bethel Park's other returning starters who recorded 20 or more wins last season are Rob Heuler (23-15 at 103), Phil Kail (29-10 at 119), Anthony Bonaccorsi (23-10 at 125), Josh Ricciuti (22-10 at 140), Jacob Riccuiti (20-17 at 160), and Adam Lazenga (32-5 at 215).

"This is the toughest schedule we've ever had," Stewart said. "We pulled out of the West Mifflin tournanent and picked up Powerade. We also dropped the Fort Cherry Duals and added the North Hills Duals and Trinity Duals."

Peters Township and South Park open the season with new coaches. Jason Carpetta has replaced Dale Murdock at Peters Township, while Dan Pinneri takes over at South Park, replacing Ken Karwowski.