Field strengthens for annual Powerade Wrestling Tournament

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, April 24, 2018 | 12:09 AM

Every year, the Powerade Wrestling Tournament draws some of the top teams and wrestlers from around the country to Western Pennsylvania.

The 2018 tournament, the 52nd annual, is ranked the second-best high school tournament in the nation by WrestlingReport.com. The event will be held Dec. 28 and 29 at Canon-McMillan.

There will be a big turnover to this year's field, which was announced Monday. There will be 14 new teams after 16 teams decided not to return.

“The tournament field looks as strong as it ever has,” tournament director Frank Vulcano Jr. said. “The additions of national powers St. Edwards and LaSalle from Ohio, Malvern Prep from the (Pennsylvania) and Oak Park from River Forest (Ill.) adds to the strength of the teams returning.”

Teams that won't be returning include Wyoming Seminary, Lake Highlands, Fla., Clovis West (Calif.), Bethel Park, Albert Gallatin, Brookville, Moon, Jefferson-Morgan and Downingtown West.

The other new teams include Freedom, Hampton, McGuffey, Quaker Valley, Thomas Jefferson and West Allegheny from the WPIAL, as well as Council Rock North (PIAA District 1), Pottsville (PIAA District 11), St. Joseph's Catholic Academy (PIAA District 6) and Woodward Academy (Georgia).

There are 20 state champions, four Powerade champions and 43 Powerade placewinners who could take part in the tournament.

The returning tournament champions include Norwin's Kurtis Phipps (106 pounds), Erie Cathedral Prep's Carter Starocci (160), Chestnut Ridge's Jared McGill (170) and Parkersburg South's (W.Va.) Braxton Amos (220).

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.