Eight wrestlers from the WPIAL have accepted NCAA Division I scholarship offers. Five of the eight will be showcased at the Powerade Christmas Tournament, which begins today at Canon-McMillan High School.

• Hempfield's Jake Kemerer has chosen Oklahoma University. Kemerer, a 171-pound senior, won Class AAA, WPIAL and PIAA titles last year while competing at 160 pounds.

• Penn-Trafford's Shane Young is a West Virginia University recruit. Young, a 119-pound senior, is a two-time Class AAA, WPIAL and PIAA champion.

• Shady Side Academy's Dane Johnson has picked Pitt. Johnson, a 140-pound senior, is a three-time WPIAL Class AA and two-time PIAA champion.

• South Side Beaver's John Prezzia has chosen Wisconsin. Prezzia, a 130-pound senior, won a PIAA Class AA title as a 103-pound freshman, but has struggled with injuries the past two years.

• Connellsville's Zack Benzio has picked Northern Illinois University. Benzio, a 189-pound senior, is a two-time WPIAL Class AAA qualifier who placed fourth as a sophomore, but missed last year's tournament with an injury.

The other three Division I recruits are also in action today.

• Anthony Zanetta, a 119-pound senior, is another Pitt recruit. Zanetta and his Keystone Oaks teammates are at the 37th annual Steve DeAugustino Holiday Wrestling Classic, which is being held at West Mifflin High School. Zanetta won Class AA WPIAL and PIAA titles at 112 pounds last season.

• West Mifflin's James Fleming will also be at the DeAugustino Classic. Fleming, a 160-pound senior who has accepted an offer from Clarion University, is a three-time WPIAL Class AAA champion.

• North Allegheny's Joe Waltko has also chosen Clarion. Waltko, a 135-pound senior, is a three-time WPIAL Class AAA runner-up. North Allegheny is entered in the Manheim Central Christmas Tournament.

The Powerade Christmas Tournament, considered one of the five strongest tournaments in the country, will feature a 42-team field for the second consecutive year.

"We had 43 teams, but New Jersey's Southern Regional pulled out on Friday," said Powerade director Frank Vulcano Jr. "They had several kids injured and didn't feel it would be worth it to make the trip."

Eleven of the 42 teams are from outside Pennsylvania -- 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.; and Waverly, N.Y.

Young and Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman are two-time Powerade champions. Young won his first Powerade title as a 103-pound 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. Peppelman is a two-time PIAA finalist and one-time champion.

"We have 17 entries who have won a state tournament," Vulcano said. "Five are returning Powerade champions."

The other three returning Powerade champs are: Blue Mountain's Josh Kindig, Franklin Regional's Nico Megaludis and Johnson. Kindig is a two-time finalist who lost in the 119-pound final in 2006, then won at 130 last year. Megaludis won at 103 and Johnson at 125.

"Central Dauphin and Shady Side Academy have to be considered the top two teams," Vulcano said. "They have the most returning placewinners."

Central Dauphin, a school from PIAA District 3, is the defending team champion, while Shady Side Academy finished third. Central Dauphin has four returning Powerade placewinners, including Simon Rice, who placed second at 112 last year. Shady Side Academy has six retuning placewinners.

"The lightest weight classes are usually the toughest," Vulcano said. "This year is no different. The strongest weight class looks to be 119, with Shane Young, Simon Rice, Frank Goodwin and Mitchell Port."

Goodwin was a state runner-up in Maryland last year at 112 pounds. Port ended Young's 100-match win streak Dec. 20 in the finals of the King of the Mountain Tournament, which was held at Central Mountain High School.

"Shane has to beat Mitchell in the semifinals to get back to the finals," Vulcano said. "It will be interesting to see how things work out in that weight class."

Bermudian Springs, a school 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 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: Zanetta (112), South Allegheny's Buddy Blotzer (130), Carlisle's Jayshon Wilson (135) and Shaler's Josh Fleming (171).

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NOTE -- The Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic will be held March 15 at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House. The United States All-Star Team will face the Pennsylvania's All-Stars in the feature match at 4 p.m. A team of WPIAL All-Stars will face a West Virginia All-Star squad at 2 p.m. in the preliminary match.

The Classic is produced and sponsored by the Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Charities and volunteers. Proceeds from the Wrestling Classic support a youth wrestling program for inner-city children through the Dapper Dan Youth Sports Leagues at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania.

Tickets may be purchased at Wright Automotive Group on Route 19, Canon-McMillan High School, or by calling the Dapper Dan Charities at (412) 263-3850. For more information about the Wrestling Classic or to order tickets, visit www.wrestlingclassic.com.