Sports

Brecksville Holiday Invitational Tournament Begins Today

The annual wrestling competition has attracted teams from near and far.

Hundreds of wrestlers will gather in today to take part in a tradition more than half a century old: the Brecksville Holiday Invitational Tournament.

The tournament, in its 51st year, is notable because of the challenges it offers the wrestlers, said tournament director Nick Dimitris.

“It’s the level of competition,” Dimitris said.

Thirty-seven teams, including Brecksville-Broadview Heights, will face off this year. Dimitris said the tournament expanded from less than 20 teams competing to about 40 in the ’90s. That’s also when it opened up to teams across the state and beyond, rather than just northeast Ohio.

According to a press release, the Bees haven’t taken the championship title since 1996, but their teams have placed in the top four in four of the past five tournaments.

Dimitris said there’s always ample seating for fans, but anyone who wants to park nearby may want to get there early. And the stands get pretty full for the finals, which start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

What: The Brecksville Holiday Invitational Tournament
Where:
When: Wrestling starts at 11 a.m. and lasts until about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. On Friday, wrestling begins at 10 a.m. and lasts until about 10 p.m.

For a look at the teams entered, the detailed schedule and the returning state place-winners and qualifiers, check the Brecksville Wrestling website. Here’s a look at , complete with some extra background and anecdotes.

Editor's note: The official name of the tournament has been corrected.


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