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Powerade Tournament draws 39-team field

By Jim Kriek For The 3 min read

What do Frank Vulcano Jr. and Jack Benny have in common? The number 39. Benny always claimed he was 39 years of age, no matter what year it was on the calendar. Now Vulcano can present that number as the key to what he has developed into what is now regarded as one of the top 10 toughest scholastic wrestling tournaments in the country.

When the annual Powerade Tournament gets under way late in December, there will be 39 teams competing, including 14 newcomers to the lineup. The event is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, December 29 and 30, at Canon-McMillan High School, with full cards of wrestling starting at 9 a.m. opening day.

There will be six consolation rounds over the two days, with competition winding up on Friday night when champions will be crowned in 14 divisions.

The tournament was started 38 years ago by Frank Vulcano Sr., then head wrestling coach at California University of Pa. When Vulcano retired, Frank Jr. assumed leadership of the event, and under his direction, the two-day competition has become recognized across the nation for its competitive strength.

The lineup of entries is led by defending Powerade champion Mt. St. Joseph’s of Maryland, whose lineup includes two wrestlers back to defend the individual titles they won a year ago, Mark Tsikerdanos (130) and Mack Lewnes (160).

Also in the fold is defending PIAA Class AAA champion Connellsville, whose lineup includes Ashton Primus, who was second last year at 135. Graduation put a severe depletion in the ranks of the defenders, but coach Tommy Dolde has some experienced returnees who are ready to make a run for the top.

Other returning area teams include Albert Gallatin, Mount Pleasant, Waynesburg and West Greene.

Their entries include Donnie Ament, Mount Pleasant, whose 49-3 record last year included Powerade, WPIAL and PIAA championships at 145.

Two from Albert Gallatin return. Lance Bryson, who finished 24-9 a year ago, including fourth in the Powerade at 152, and Mark Brown, 32-8 last year, including eighth in the Powerade (160), and fourth in the state.

Rounding out the returning lineup are Burrell, host Canon-McMillan, Cedar Cliff (PIAA District 3), Chartiers-Houston, Chartiers Valley, Christianburg, Va., Colonial Forge, Va., Ft. LeBoeuf (PIAA District 10), Fox Chapel, Greensburg Central Catholic, Greensburg Salem, Moeller, Ohio; Parkersburg, W.Va.; Penn-Trafford, Solon, Ohio; State College (PIAA District 6), Trinity and Walsh Jesuit, Ohio.

Newcomers include Avonworth, Canandaigua, N.Y., Central Dauphin (PIAA District 3), Cox, Va., Derry, Dubois (PIAA District 9), Gateway, Lake Stevens, Wash., McGuffey, North Star (PIAA District 5), Pine-Richland, Pius X (PIAA District 11), Shaker Heights, Ohio, and Shaler.

In all, the field includes seven returning champions, seven who finished second, and 52 who earned places overall.

Competition begins at 9 a.m. Dec. 29, and continues through pigtail and first consolation, followed in the evening by second and third consolations, sandwiched around the quarterfinals.

Friday’s schedule starts at 9:30 a.m. with the fourth consolations, followed by semifinals, and fifth and sixth consolations.

The consolation finals go at 5 p.m., followed at 7:30 by the championship round.

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