Dec 26, 2023 3 min read

By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

The Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament has gone through many changes in its long and illustrious history.

But this year’s change might be the most significant.

For the first time, the tournament will welcome varsity girls teams and that has a lot of people talking about it. The PIAA established female wrestling as a varsity sport after more than 100 girls teams were up and running to qualify it as a PIAA sport. Locally, Canon-McMillan, Trinity, Fort Cherry, Peters Township and Burgettstown will be competing in this year’s event, which gets underway today at Canon-McMillan High School. The girls varsity tournament begins at 1 p.m. The junior varsity tournament will be held Thursday and the boys varsity event will be run Friday and Saturday.

Canon-McMillan enters the girls tournament as the No. 1-ranked team in the WPIAL after winning the state team title last year.

“I think Powerade is a tournament our girls respect and are excited to participate in,” said Grant Lowther, Trinity girls head coach. “It’s obviously something they’ve seen what a big deal it’s been for the boys for so many years. They are excited to participate in it themselves.”

Lowther said he sees a little more jump in their step at practice with the tournament fast approaching.

“They are feeling confident,” he said. “They are getting excited for the competition.”

Trinity’s numbers are growing fast. The Hillers had two varsity girls wrestlers by season’s end last year. This year, the number of varsity girls has grown to 13. And the Hillers have found success as the numbers grew. Trinity took fourth place at the Butler Tournament and second place in the Hubbard (Ohio) Tournament.

“I think we’re on the right path,” said Lowther. “Everyone, not just my girls, are excited to get to a PIAA tournament. That’s the main goal.”

Lowther views competition as competition, no matter the level or gender.

“I think there are a lot of similarities (coaching the boys and girls),” he said. “You have to be tough. You have to be focused and motivated. Those three things are true for girls and boys.”

Lowther said getting some medals and placing in the top 10 of the 39 girls teams participating from five states would constitute a successful tournament.

“I think our (girls) numbers are good,” said tournament director Frank Vulcano, who is athletic director at Canon-McMillan. “The girls are a one-day tournament because our numbers aren’t as good as the boys right now. But we’ll build the tournament over time.”

On the boys side, Wyoming Seminary will be back to defend its team title. Wyoming Seminary and Malvern Prep are considered the top two teams in the tournament.

“I think there are a lot of good schools with wrestlers who can hold their own,” said Trinity boys coach Ron Tarquinio.

“The outside competition will be pretty tough this year.”

Trinity will have Blake Reihner, who finished fifth at 139 in the state tournament last year, back. Reihner won his 100th career match in Trinity’s first action of the season.

Canon-McMillan returns Andrew Binni, who was a silver medalist in last year’s PIAA tournament at 127.