Canon-McMillan wrestling coach Chris Mary doesn't know whether Mike Hull will return for his junior season, but he's still hoping.

Hull, a junior, recently committed to play football at Penn State University.

"Mike is recovering from a back injury he suffered during football season," Mary said. "I'm not sure whether he's coming back. I sure hope so, because he's one of the top 215-pounders in the state. He has the talent and ability to win WPIAL and PIAA titles."

Hull made his varsity debut last season and placed second in the WPIAL and sixth in the PIAA.

"One thing I know for sure is that Mike will not be back for the Powerade Tournament," said Mary, referring to the 43-team tournament that will take place Dec. 29-30 at Canon-McMillan.

Hull was a third-place finisher at Powerade last year. Sam Brownlee and Nick Catalano were also place-winners for Canon-McMillan. Brownlee placed third at 285, while Catalano finished seventh at 125.

"This field is as stacked as it's ever been," Mary said. "There are a lot of returning studs in every weight class."

The two biggest headliners are Penn-Trafford's Shane Young and Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman. Both are two-time Powerade Tournament champions. Young won the 103-pound title as a sophomore, then moved up and won at 112 last year. Peppelman claimed the 130-pound title as a sophomore, then captured the 140-pound crown last year.

Blue Mountain's Josh Kindig and Glenn Carson of New Jersey's Southern Regional are two-time Powerade finalists. Kindig lost in the 119-pound final in 2006, then won at 130 last year. Carson is a two-time runner-up at 215. Last year's loss was in overtime.

The other two returning champions are Franklin Regional's Nico Megaludis (103) and Shady Side Academy's Dane Johnson (125). The only other returning finalist is Central Dauphin's Simon Rice, who finished third at 103 in 2006, and second at 112 in 2007.

The 43-team field includes 12 out of state teams, Chancellor, Va.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Clovis, Calif.; Clovis West, Calif.; Fauquier, Va; Haddonfield, N.J.; Harrison, Ga.; Mount St. Joseph, Md.; Parkersburg, W.Va.; Ripley, W.Va.; Southern Regional, N.J.; and Waverly, N.Y.

Canon-McMillan is one of 20 entries from the WPIAL. The others are: Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Burgettstown, Burrell, Chartiers-Houston, Connellsville, Derry, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Latrobe, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Shady Side Academy, South Side Beaver, Trinity, Waynesburg, West Allegheny and West Greene.

Pennsylvania teams outside the WPIAL are Bellefonte, Benton, Blue Mountain, Cedar Cliff, Central Dauphin, Council Rock North, Delone Catholic, North Star, Pleasant Valley , State College and Westmont Hilltop.

West Mifflin tournament

Beth-Center and Washington are entered in the Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic, which will take place Dec. 29-30 at West Mifflin Area High School.

Other entries are Ambridge, Bermudian Springs, Brashear, Carlisle, Carlynton, Carrick, Chartiers Valley, Keystone Oaks, Langley, Laurel Highlands, Hopewell, McKeesport, Montour, Mt. Lebanon, Peabody, Penn Hills, Perry, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Shaler Area, South Allegheny, Steel Valley, Thomas Jefferson and West Mifflin.

Bermudian Springs, a school from District 3, has won three consecutive DeAugustino Classic titles and is favored to win a fourth.

West Mifflin's Sam Sherlock and James Fleming are also two-time champions. Sherlock's titles were at 119 and 125, while Fleming won at 145 and 152.

The other four returning champions are: Keystone Oaks' Anthony Zanetta (112), South Allegheny's Buddy Blotzer (130), Carlisle's Jayshon Wilson (135), and Shaler's Josh Fleming (171).

Southmoreland tournament

Bentworth and Jefferson-Morgan are entered in the Southmoreland Christmas Tournament, which will be held Dec. 29-30.

Other WPIAL entries are: Avonworth, Baldwin, Blackhawk, Gateway, Greensburg Salem, Indiana, Jeannette, Norwin, Riverview, Southmoreland, South Fayette, South Park, Uniontown, Valley, Woodland Hills and Yough.

Norwin is the defending champion.