Canon-McMillan High School will host the Powerade Christmas Tournament for the seventh consecutive year.

The tournament, which is celebrating its 43rd anniversary, will take place Tuesday and Wednesay with entries from seven states: Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.

The tournament features five teams that won state titles last year, including two-time Powerade and two-time PIAA Class AAA champion Central Dauphin.

Shady Side Academy has won a pair of PIAA Class AA team titles at the individual tournament. The other three state champions are Christiansburg (Virginia), Kissimmee Osceola (Florida) and Collins Hill (Georgia).

"The tournament is as tough as ever," said Frank Vulcano Jr., tournament director. "We try to improve on the quality each year and are obviously excited to have as many returning champions as we do this year."

Six champions return to defend their titles and there would have been a seventh, but Blue Mountain's Josh Kindig, a two-time Powerade champion and one-time PIAA Class AAA champion, is recovering from a knee injury and out of the lineup until January.

Shady Side Academy has a pair of champion in Frank Martellotti and Matthew Cunningham, who won at 130 and 160 last year. The other four returning champions are Derry Area's Jimmy Gulibon, Franklin Regional's Nico Megaludis, Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman and Mt. Saint Joseph's Karl Green.

Peppelman is a three-time Powerade and two-time PIAA Class AAA champion. The only four-time champion in Powerade history is North Allegheny's Ty Moore (1986-89). Megaludis is a two-time Powerade and two-time PIAA Class AAA champion.

"We have at least three kids who are capable of winning a Powerade title," said Shady Side Academy coach Tim Giel, referring to Martellotti, Cunningham and Geoff Alexander. "We will need more than that, however, to win the Powerade team title."

The 43-team field includes 22 teams from the WPIAL: Albert Gallatin, Bethel Park, Burgettstown, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Chartiers-Houston, Connellsville, Derry Area, Franklin Regional, Hempfield, Hopewell, Latrobe, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, Penn-Trafford, Shady Side Academy, South Side Beaver, Trinity, Waynesburg, West Allegheny and West Greene.

Bermudian Springs, a school from District 3 located in York, returns to the Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic with a streak of four consecutive team titles. The DeAugustino Classic will take place Tuesday and Wednesday at West Mifflin Area High School.

Bermudian Springs had 13 of its 14 entries place among the top six last year, including five finalists. The only finalist returning for Bermudian Springs is two-time champion Tanner Coyle, who claimed the 112-pound title last year.

The other five returning champions are Hopewell's Tim Dusch, West Mifflin's Sam Sherlock, Seneca Valley's Dan Papst, Chartiers Valley's Ty Wilps and Shaler's Jamal Conroy.

"I'm not sure how many Bermudian Springs starters have graduated," West Mifflin coach Tony Salopek said. "But [Bermudian Springs] has to be considered the favorite."

In addition to Bermudian Springs and the host school, the 24-team field includes: Belle Vernon Area, Brashear, Carlynton, Carrick, Keystone Oaks, Langley, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport Area, Montour, Mt. Lebanon, Peabody, Penn Hills, Perry, Shaler Area, South Allegheny, South Park, Steel Valley, Thomas Jefferson, Upper St. Clair, Washington, Woodland Hills and Yough.

North Allegheny is entered in the 40th annual Manheim Central Christmas tournament Tuesday and Wednesday.

"This is the third straight year we will spend the holidays at the Manheim Tournament," North Allegheny coach Jamie Kyriazis said. "It's not a meat-grinder like the Powerade Tournament, but it's still a very strong tournament."

North Allegheny and Kiski Area are the only WPIAL teams entered in the 14-team field.

"The tournament directors have a unique way of helping teams with travel expenses," Kyriazis said. "Our kids will stay at homes with host families, while the coaches are put up at a hotel."

Fox Chapel Area, Mars Area and North Hills are among seven WPIAL teams entered in the Wheeling Park Duals, which will take place Tuesday and Wednesday.

The other four competing WPIAL schools are: Beth-Center, Peters Township, Plum and Ringgold.

"The kids can get a lot of mat time at the Wheeling Park Duals," Fox Chapel coach Ron Frank said. "We will wrestle eight or nine matches in two days. You can't get that at any other tournament."

The Southmoreland Holiday Classic will also take place Tuesday and Wednesday.

A new team champion will be crowned as last year's champion, Shamokin Area, has stepped up to the Powerade Christmas Tournament after dominating last year's Southmoreland tournament with six finalists.

The other four returning champions are: Blairsville's Adam Weinell, South Fayette's Nick Carr, Greenville's R.J. Malson, and Forest Hills' Zack Glessner.

WPIAL teams entered in the Southmoreland tournament are: Avella, Avonworth, Baldwin, Bentworth, Charleroi, Chartiers Valley, Gateway, Greensburg Salem, Indiana, Jeannette, Jefferson-Morgan, Norwin, Riverview, Southmoreland, South Fayette, Uniontown, Valley and Woodland Hills.

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