Powerade Wrestling Tournament expands
By Jim Kriek , For the Herald-Standard

Now it can be said that the Powerade Wrestling Tournament is not only one of the toughest in the entire country, it also covers the entire country. Literally, from sea to shining sea.

Director Frank Vulcano has announced that this year's event has been scheduled for Dec. 29 and 30 at Canon-McMillan High School, with the field now at a record 39 teams, representing seven states, from one end of the country to the other.

Three from Virginia on the Atlantic Ocean side of the country, and one from the state of Washington on the Pacific side of the nation.

The field is led by the top four finishers from last year, representing four different states - defending champion Mt. St. Joseph of Maryland; runner-up Connellsville, Christiansburg, Va., and Parkersburg, W.Va. Waynesburg (10th) and Albert Gallatin (23rd) are also returning.

The complete field includes 28 teams from Pennsylvania - Albert Gallatin, Avonworth, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, defending WPIAL and state champion Connellsville, Cedar Cliff, Central Dauphin (District 3), Chartiers-Houston, Char-tiers Valley, Derry, DuBois (District 9), Ft. LeBoeuf (District 10), Fox Chapel, Gateway, Greensburg-Salem, Greensburg Central Catholic, McGuffey, Mount Pleasant, North Star (District 5), Pennridge (District 1), Penn-Trafford, Pine-Richland, Pius X (District 11), Shaler, State College (District 6), Trinity, Waynesburg, and West Greene.

Among the out-of-state entries, and the team that will have the longest distance to travel, is Lake Stevens, from the state of Washington. Ohio teams include Moeller, Shaker Heights, Solon, and Walsh Jesuit. Virginia is represented by Christiansburg, Colonial Forge, and Cox, plus Can-andaigua, N.Y., Mt. St. Joseph, Md., and Parkersburg, W. Va.

Competition gets underway on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 9:30 a.m., followed by the first consolation round. Second consolations go at 5 p.m., and the quarterfinals and third consolations at 7 p.m. The following day will start with the fourth consolation round at 9:30 a.m., followed by semifinals and fifth consolations at 11:30 a.m., consolation finals at 5 p.m., and the championship finals at 7:30 p.m., preceded by the traditional Parade of Champions.

Along with the top four teams back from last year, the individual field  will include seven returning champions, seven runners-up, and a total of 52  wrestlers who earned medals a year ago, among them the 152-pound champion  Dave Rella of Walsh Jesuit, who was named the tournament's Most Outstanding  Wrestler.

Mat topics

The field includes two state champions from last year, Connellsville and Christiansburg, the latter back-to-back Virginia champs. ... Second-place teams in their respective states include Lake Stevens, Wash. (Quad-A), Parkersburg (AAA), Colonial Forge (AAA), plus Walsh Jesuit, third, Ohio (Division 2 AAA); Moeller, fourth, Ohio (Division 1); Cox, sixth, Virginia (AAA); Trinity, Pa., eighth (AAA); Mount Pleasant, Pa., eighth (AA); Central Dauphin, Pa., ninth (AAA); and Shaker Heights, Ohio, 10th (Division 1). ... Defending champions returning include Colin Johnston, Canon-McMillan, 103; Andrew Pilla, Christiansburg, Va., 119; Mark Tsikerdanos, Mt. St. Joseph, Md., 130; Donnie Ament, Mount Pleasant, 145; David Rella, Walsh Jesuit, Ohio, 152; Mack Lownes, Mt. St. Joseph, 160; and Ryan Tomer, Penn-Trafford, 275. ... Local returnees, and their records from last season, include Brian Knapp, 103 (27-12), and Nick Garber, Waynesburg, 119 (35-9); Ashtin Primus, Connellsville, 135 (45-6); and three from Albert Gallatin, Lance Bryson, 152 (24-9); Mark Brown, 160 (32-8); and Rob Blosser, 189 (30-8). ... Primus was second a year ago, losing in the finals to Brandon Rader, of Parkersburg. ... A year ago, Colin Johnston decisioned Dan Whiteneck, Mt. St. Joseph, 5-5 rideout in overtime, for the 103 title, and Donnie Ament decisioned Matt Epperly of Christiansburg, 5-3, in the 145 final. All four are back again this year, in the same classes. ... Ron Garrison, who rates tournaments on a national basis, has the Powerade as fifth in the entire country for scholastic competition, and first for Pennsylvania, in both the WPIAL and state tournaments. ... The top 10 winningest wrestlers from a year ago, who are back to compete this year, include Collin Dozier, 130, Cox, Va., (54-2); Cody Gardner, 215, Christiansburg, Va. (51-2); Matt Epperly, 145, Christiansburg (51-4); Donnie Ament, 145, Mount Pleasant (49-3); Bubba Jenkins, 145, Cox (48-2); Walker Faison, 112, Cox (48-3); James Sciascia, 152, Pius X (District 11), 48-5; Tony Communale, 112, Pius X (47-7); Nick Nelson, 135, Shaler (45-2); and Ashtin Primus, 135, Connellsville (45-6).