Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Wrestling heads list of weekly winter tournaments

January 2, 2012 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365


As the new year kicks in, wrestling takes center stage this week with three big tournaments at Peoria, Round Valley and Joseph City highs on Friday (Jan. 6) and Saturday (Jan. 7).

The Peoria Wrestling Invitational Tournament of Champions has been a fixture on the Arizona circuit for decades.

This year’s tourney features many of the state’s top teams.

Scheduled to participate are Phoenix B arry Goldwater, Chandler Basha, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Phoenix Brophy Prep, Buckeye, Glendale Cactus, Peoria Centennial, Laveen Cesar Chavez, Tucson Cholla, Glendale Copper Canyon, Glendale Deer Valley, Phoenix Desert Vista, Phoenix Greenway, Holbrook, Glendale Ironwood, Avondale La Joya, Lake Havasu, Peoria Liberty, Gilbert Mesquite, Goodyear Millennium, Cottonwood Mingus, Phoenix Moon Valley, Glendale Mountain Ridge, Mesa Mountain View, Phoenix North Canyon, Phoenix Paradise Valley, Peoria, Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, Safford, Tucson Sunnyside, Peoria Sunrise Mountain, Phoenix Thunderbird, Avondale Westview, Mesa Westwood.

The Round Valley Dome in Eagar is the site of the Survival of the Fittest Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Participating teams are Whiteriver Alchesay, Lakeside Blue Ridge, Chinle, Flagstaff Coconino, Coolidge, Gallup, N.M., Ganado, Miyamura, N.M., Queen Creek, Round Valley, Tucson Sabino, Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor, Show Low, St. Johns, Thatcher, Tuba City, Wickenburg, Surprise Willow Canyon, Window Rock.

The Joseph City Wrestling Tournament will run on Friday and Saturday at Joseph City High.

Participating teams are Wellton Antelope, Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain, Camp Verde, Chino Valley, Goodyear Desert Edge, Tuba City Greyhills, Keams Canyon Hopi, Joseph City, Kingman, Many Farms, Heber Mogollon, Pima, Pinon, Scottsdale Salt River and Sanders Valley.

Other winter sports tournaments:

Soccer

IBN Holiday (boys and girls), Wednesday (Jan. 4) through Saturday. Boys at Peoria Liberty and Glendale Raymond S. Kellis. Girls at Glendale Cactus and Liberty.

Boys teams: Phoenix Alhambra, Goodyear Desert Edge, Goodyear Estrella Foothills, Avondale La Joya, Peoria Liberty, Glendale Raymond S. Kellis, Surprise Shadow Ridge, Buckeye Youngker.

Girls teams: Glendale Cactus, Scottsdale Coronado, Goodyear Desert Edge, Goodyear Estrella Foothills, Glendale, Phoenix Greenway, Avondale La Joya, Peoria Liberty, Goodyear Millennium, Bullhead City Mohave, Peoria, Surprise Shadow Ridge, Buckeye Verrado, Buckeye Youngker.

Sun Valley Soccer Classic (girls), Thursday (Jan. 5) through Saturday at Glendale Copper Canyon.

Participating teams: Avondale Agua Fria, Glendale Apollo, Buckeye, Glendale Copper Canyon, El Mirage Dysart, Phoenix Maryvale, Cottonwood Mingus, Tolleson, Avondale Westview, Surprise Willow Canyon.

Phoenix Country Day School Desert Classic (girls), Friday and Saturday at Phoenix Country Day School.

Participating teams: Chandler Prep, Florence, Fountain Hills, Phoenix Northwest Christian, Phoenix Country Day School, Safford, Scottsdale Saguaro, Eloy Santa Cruz, Phoenix Scottsdale Christian, Sedona Red Rock, Tucson St. Gregory, Phoenix Sunnyslope, Tempe Prep.

Basketball

Phoenix Union High School District Boys Classic, Wednesday through Saturday at Laveen Betty H. Fairfax High.

Participating teams: Laveen Cesar Chavez, Phoenix Alhambra, Phoenix St. Mary’s, Phoenix Trevor Browne, Avondale Westview, Phoenix Central, Phoenix Camelback, Tucson Salpointe Catholic, Phoenix Westwind Prep, Phoenix South Mountain, Phoenix North, Phoenix Maryvale, Phoenix Carl Hayden, Phoenix Barry Goldwater, Tucson Flowing Wells, Laveen Betty H. Fairfax.