Chris Day is familiar with the Powerade Christmas Tournament. He was a participant while wrestling at Trinity High School.

"The Powerade Tournament is one of the top five tournaments in the country," said Day, a 2000 Trinity alumnus serving as interim head coach at Burgettstown High School. "I placed third at 145 pounds in my senior year."

Burgettstown is one of 43 teams entered in the Powerade Christmas Tournament, which will be held Monday and Tuesday at Canon-McMillan High School.

"I like wrestling good competition," Day said when asked why his Class AA squad would enter such a strong tournament. "I don't see how we would benefit by going to a weaker tournament. You have to wrestle the best to beat the best."

Burgettstown has one wrestler who enters Powerade with an unblemished record. Ryan Watson, a 215-pound senior, is off to an 8-0 start, with seven pins.

"Ryan is a 215-pounder who likes to shoot for takedowns," Day said. "You don't see that very often from a big guy. I'm anxious to see how he does at the Powerade Tournament. Ryan came within one win of placing last year, so he should be seeded."

Burgettstown is one of three local teams entered in the Powerade Tournament. The Blue Devils will be joined by South Side Beaver and West Allegheny. The trio are among 20 WPIAL entries.

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.

The other WPIAL entries are: Albert Gallatin; Bethel Park; Burrell; Canon-McMillan; Chartiers-Houston; Connellsville; Derry; Franklin Regional; Hempfield; Latrobe; McGuffey; Mount Pleasant; Penn-Trafford; Shady Side Academy; Trinity; Waynesburg; and West Greene.

Pennsylvania teams outside the WPIAL are: Bellefonte (PIAA District 6); Benton (District 4); Blue Mountain (District 11); Cedar Cliff (District 3); Central Dauphin (District 3); Council Rock North (District 1); Delone Catholic (District 3); North Star (District 5); Pleasant Valley (District 11); State College (District 6); and Westmont Hilltop (District 6).

The two biggest headliners at Powerade are Penn-Trafford's Shane Young and Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman. Both are two-time Powerade champions.

Young won the 103-pound title as a sophomore, then 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 pounds.

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

DeAugustino Holiday Classic

Ambridge, Carlynton, Chartiers Valley, Hopewell, Montour and Langley are entered in the The 37th annual Steve DeAugustino Holiday Wrestling Classic Monday and Tuesday at West Mifflin High School.

Bermudian Springs, from District 3, has won three consecutive DeAugustino Classic titles and is favored to win a fourth. The Eagles have four returning champions -- Tanner Coyle (103), Nick Blasone (119), Derek Schmelyun (140) and Devin O'Brien (145). Blasone and O'Brien are two-time champions. Schmelyun is a two-time finalist.

West Mifflin's Sam Sherlock and James Fleming also are 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).

Also entered in the 26-team field are: Beth-Center; Brashear; Carrick; Laurel Highlands; McKeesport; Mt. Lebanon; Peabody; Penn Hills; Perry; Pine-Richland; Seneca Valley; Steel Valley; Thomas Jefferson; and Washington.

Southmoreland Tournament

Blackhawk and South Fayette are entered in the Southmoreland Christmas Tournament, which also will be Monday and Tuesday.

Other WPIAL teams in the 30-team field are: Avonworth; Baldwin; Bentworth; Gateway; Greensburg Salem; Indiana; Jeannette; Jefferson-Morgan; Norwin; Riverview; Southmoreland; South Fayette; South Park; Uniontown; Valley; Woodland Hills; and Yough.

Forest Hills has three returing champions: Shane Gallaher (103), Dave Fogle (119) and Robert Oshaben (160). Central Cambria has two returning champions: Phil Steinberg (135) and Pat Connah (140). Southern Garrett, Md. has two returning champs: Lex Ozias (112) and George Scheffel (125).