Area wrestling teams and their fans will be very busy during the holidays, as 69 teams from the WPIAL and five from the City League will compete in holiday tournaments next week.

Most are competing in individual tournaments, while a few are entered in dual-meet team tournaments.

Canon-McMillan High School will play host to the Powerade Christmas Tournament for the seventh consecutive year. The tournament, which is celebrating its 43rd anniversary, will take place Tuesday and Wednesday 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 champs 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 are back and there would have been six 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 is out of the lineup until January.

Shady Side Academy has a pair of champions in Frank Martellotti and Matt Cunningham, who won at 130 and 160, respectively, last year. The other four returning champs are Derry Area's Jimmy Gulibon, Franklin Regional's Nico Megaludis, Central Dauphin's Marshall Peppelman and Mount 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.

"It's great to host such a prestigious event," Canon-McMillan coach Chris Mary said. "There will be some of the best high school wrestlers in the country in our gym. It's great mat time for all our kids."

The Steve DeAugustino Holiday Classic will also take place Tuesday and Wednesday at West Mifflin Area High School with 24 entries, including four-time defending champion Bermudian Springs, a school from District 3 located in York County.

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.

The Southmoreland Holiday Classic will also take place Tuesday and Wednesday. A new team champion will be crowned because Shamokin Area, the defending champion, will wrestle in the Powerade Tournament after dominating at Southmoreland last year with six finalists.

Six individuals are returning champions, including the Norwin duo of Josh Freidhof and John Pezze, who won titles at 103 and 119.

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.

North Allegheny and Kiski Area are two of 14 teams entered in the 40th annual Manheim Central Christmas Tournament, which will take place 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."

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

Beth-Center, Fox Chapel, Mars, North Hills, Peters Township, Plum and Ringgold are entered in the Wheeling Park Duals, which is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

"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."

In other tournaments, Butler and Moon are entered in the Brockway Big Dog Tournament, while Seneca Valley is in the Altoona Holiday Classic.

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