|
www.defensesoap.com
Rotated ads 8/21/11 top to bottom
| |
December 15, 2001 - Wrestling U.S.A. Magazine page 18
Toughest High School
Tournaments in the Nation
By Al Fontes
The second year of the new millennium marks the third annual preview of the
Toughest High School Tournaments In the Nation.
The intent of this preview is to give more recognition to the top caliber
tournaments across the continental United States. Many wrestlers participating
at these prestigious events are among the best of the best in their respective
states and in the country.
Several tournaments broke into the top ten this year, but the leader among the
ELITE 10 is the Reno Tournament of Champions. Held at the Reno Livestock Center
near the bright neon lights and gambling casinos of downtown Reno, this
prestigious event has been among the elite since its inception. Last year
featured awesome depth in each weight group and hosted many of the nation’s
top twenty-five ranked teams. Tournament Director Ross Aguiar and his
staff have worked very hard to keep the Reno TOC among the most quality events
in the land. In addition to the High School tournament, a collegiate competition
is held prior.
Moving up to number two is the Ironman Invitational in Ohio. Traditionally
this two-day event hosts a small complement of teams from Ohio and its
neighboring states, many of which are among the elite in the nation. In
the early nineties, prior to the creation of this review, the Ironman was
considered in the wrestling circles as one of the more competitive tournaments
in the country.
Today, this tournament is labeled the best small tournament in the USA; so don't
be surprised if this event moves up to the top spot in the next couple of years.
Ranked the toughest tournament in the nation for the past several of years, the
Delaware Beast of the East is number three in 2002. Although this tournament has
dropped to number three, it is still among the elite and features many of the
top teams and individuals from the powerful state of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the
east coast. Director Vic Leonard has done an outstanding job creating a national
level high school tournament setting. Next year marks the tournament’s tenth
year anniversary, and is planned to be a big event.
The state of California is one of a few states, which conduct a one-division
state tournament. With approximately eight hundred competitive programs
statewide, the competition is among the best in the nation. Ranked number four
and a carbon copy of the prestigious California state meet, the Five Counties
Invitational in Southern California is the most competitive in the Golden State.
The medal stand at Five Counties is almost a mirror image of the stand at the
state meet in March. Many wrestlers who participate at this event are among the
state placers, and All-Americans at the Cadet, Junior, and Senior High School
Nationals.
Entering the elite ten for the first time are tournaments from the traditional
wrestling states in the Midwest and East. They include the Bethlehem Holiday
Tournament (Pennsylvania), Geary Invitational (Oklahoma), Medina Invitational
(Ohio), Geneseo (Illinois), and Charles City Duals in Iowa. These events feature
many of the top teams and individual talent in their respective states. In
addition, the Minnesota Christmas Tournament continues to be among the
nation’s best in a state emerging as a national power.
I wish all who coordinate, volunteer, and participate at these great events the
best and good luck in the future. Your hard work and dedication to the greatest
sport in the world is well appreciated.
ELITE 10
1. Reno Tournament of Champions (Nevada)
2. Ironman Invitational (Ohio)
3. Beast of the East (Delaware)
4. Five Counties Invitational (Southern California)
5. Bethlehem Holiday Tournament (Pennsylvania)
6. Geary Invitational (Oklahoma)
7. Medina Invitational (Ohio)
8. Geneseo (Illinois)
9. Minnesota Christmas Tournament (Minnesota)
10. Charles City Duals (Iowa)
HONORABLE MENTION (ELITE LEVEL)
PowerAde Christmas Tournament (Pennsylvania)
Easton-Phillipsburg National High School Duals (Pennsylvania)
Manheim Holiday Tournament (Pennsylvania)
Clovis Doc Buchanan Invitational (Central California)
Perry Tournament (Oklahoma)
Virginia Duals (Virginia)
SPECIAL MENTION
Region-1 (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA,
WY)
ASICS Sierra Nevada Classic (Nevada)
California Invitational Tournament-C.I.T. (Southern California)
Clovis West Shoot-out Duals (Central California)
Cougar Classic Canyon Springs (Southern California)
El Cajon Invitational (Southern California)
Flowing Wells (Arizona)
Mid-Cal Invitational (California)
North Idaho Tri-State (Idaho)
Rocky Mountain Rumble (Utah)
Tiger-Grizzly Tournament (Idaho)
Uintah (Utah)
Region-2 (IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD, TX,WI)
Bi-State Classic (Wisconsin)
Glen Bard (Illinois)
Granite City Holiday Tournament (Illinois)
Lees Summit (Missouri)
Oakville (Missouri)
Platte County (Missouri)
Raytown South (Missouri)
Region-3 (AL, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MID, NC, NJ, SC,
TN,VA,WV)
Brook Wendy Classic (West Virginia)
Capital Challenge (Virginia)
Deep Creek (Virginia)
Eagle Holiday Classic (Virginia)
Greeneville Invitational (Tennessee)
Mid-South Classic (Tennessee)
Miller Mott Invitational (North Carolina)
Tiger Holiday Classic (North Carolina)
Region-4 (CT, IN, MA, ME, MI, NH, NY, OH, PA, RI,VT)
Alliance Top Gun (Ohio)
Becksville Holiday Tournament (Ohio)
Hammond Invitational (Maryland)
Jeff Reese Memorial (NewYork)
Midwest (Ohio)
Northeast Christmas Classic (Massachusetts)
|
