OXFORD – A prestigious wrestling tournament that has seen three NCAA Division-I Champions and more than 50 Section IV and New York State Champions in action over the 57 years of existence happens right here Chenango County to kick off every wrestling season.
The 2019 Clyde Cole Tournament, hosted by the Oxford Rotary Club and Oxford Academy and Central School, will see just as much talent over the course of two days – Friday evening and all day Saturday – at the high school gymnasium.
Once the action begins on Friday at 5 p.m., 14 programs from both near and far will battle for the team trophy as well as each wrestler looks to take home the first place medal and the favored Clyde Cole Champions jacket.
Along with medals handed out to the first, second and third place finishers, an Outstanding Wrestler plaque that is voted on by Coaches and referees will be awarded at the end of the tournament. Also to be handed out to individuals are the Pin award (most pins in the shortest time), the Director’s plaque (champion with least amount of points scored against), and the Sportsmanship award (wrestler who displays the best qualities of sportsmanship).
However, the Clyde Cole Tournament is more than just wrestling.
Beyond the action that takes place on several mats, there is the behind the scenes work that goes into the weekend full of wrestling that most don’t know about.
Many Oxford area residents open their homes for the weekend to house wrestlers and coaches for the out-of-the-area-teams annually. For 2019, five teams will be welcomed with open arms by area hosts after a long day of travel to Oxford.
In order for the tournament to operate as smoothly as it does year after year, numerous volunteers from the community and school participate in different roles, whether it be scoreboard operation, announcing the bouts throughout the day or helping within the concessions area. Over 50 volunteers are on hand at any given time.
“Because of this cooperation from the community, school, and Rotary, the tournament continues to flourish,” said Terry Stark of the Oxford Rotary Club. “Every year, the [Oxford Rotary] Club uses the proceeds from the tournament to support community service projects, especially projects for the youth of the community.”
Stark states that some of the projects the Rotary Club has helped with over the years include parks maintenance and development, public library contributions, village and town beautification, the Rotary International Student Exchange program, student scholarships and help with the Oxford wrestling team needs.
On top of the fundraising and community service efforts over the two days, the tournament has become a way that many wrestlers, coaches and members of the wrestling world have built long-term friendships.
This year, the field of wrestlers includes Norwich, Sherburne-Earlville, Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton-Harpursville, Sidney, Maine-Endwell, Groton and Spencer-Van Etten/Candor, Averill Park, Carthage, Elder-Liberty-Sullivan West (ELS), Queensbury and Shenendehowa along with the host program Oxford-Greene.
The wrestling begins on Friday at 5 p.m. with both the preliminary and quarterfinal matches. On Saturday, the action continues with the semifinal bouts as well as the first round of wrestle backs. The finals are scheduled to begin no earlier than 5 p.m. that evening.
Admission for each session is $4 for adults, $3 for students. A tournament pass, which can be purchased Friday night for $10, includes admission into all sessions as well as a tournament program and a $.50 coupon to use at the concession stand. Students can buy a pass to have admission into all three sessions as well for $6.