OXFORD – The 51st annual Clyde Cole Wrestling tournament, co-sponsored by the Oxford Rotary Club and Oxford Academy Central School, will be held at the high school gymnasium Friday Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7.
The tournament will be similar to past years with 15 teams – including several local teams – being challenged by teams from other parts of the state. This year’s local field includes Oxford, Norwich, Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton-Harpursville, Unatego, Otselic Valley, and Unadilla Valley. Other regional teams include Chenango Valley, Delhi, Groton, Moravia, and Sidney. Strong returning contenders from outside the area are Averill Park, Carthage, and perennial powerhouses Queensbury and Shenendehowa. It appears this year’s tournament will again be one of the strongest in the area, and provide a high level of competition early in the season.
More than 7,000 wrestlers have participated in the Clyde Cole Tournament over the years including more than 50 Section IV and state champions. The tournament has also produced the following three NCAA Division I Wrestling Champions: J.P. O’Connor (Oxford), 2010 NCAA champion; Kyle Dake (Lansing), 2010-2013 national champion; and Brad Penrith (Windsor), 1986 national champion.
Preliminary matches begin at 5 p.m with quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Semifinals and the first round of wrestlebacks start at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Finals will not start until after 5 p.m.
Awards this year include a team championship trophy, a runner-up team trophy, Olympic-style medals and jackets for all first-place finishers, and Olympic-style medals for second- and third-place finishers. Other awards include an Outstanding Wrestler Plaque (voted by coaches and referees), a Pin Plaque (most pins in the shortest time), Director’s Plaque (champion with least amount of points scored against), and a Sportsmanship Plaque (wrestler who displays the best qualities of sportsmanship).
Oxford Rotary will again provide candy, beverages, and food including pizza, chili, and hot dogs. The Rotary uses the proceeds to support community service projects, especially projects for the youth of the community. Such projects include park maintenance and development, public library contributions, village and town beautification, and the well- known Rotary International Student Exchange program, student scholarships, and the Oxford wrestling team. Oxford Rotary is always seeking community-minded people to join. Anyone interested in joining Rotary should contact Terry Stark at 843-9414.
Beyond the wrestling and the reinvestment of the proceeds back into the community, the tournament has become a vehicle to establish long-term friendships with other schools, coaches, wrestlers, and the community. Oxford area residents annually opened their homes during the weekend to house some 30-40 wrestlers and coaches from out-of-the-area-teams. Also, numerous volunteers from the community and school participate in the tournament operations. As a result of this cooperation from the community, school, and Rotary, the tournament continues to flourish.
Admission on Friday is $4 for adults and $3 for students for the three sessions – Friday night, semifinals/wrestlebacks/finals. A tournament pass for all three sessions may be purchased. The fee is $8 for adults and $6 for students.