OXFORD – The 52nd annual Clyde Cole Wrestling tournament, co-sponsored by the Oxford Rotary Club and Oxford Academy and Central School, will be held at the high school gym on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6.

The tournament will be similar to past years with 13 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 Groton and Sidney. Strong returning contenders from outside the area include Averill Park, Carthage, and perennial powerhouses Queensbury and Shenendehowa. It appears this year's tournament can again be expected to be one of the strongest in the area and provide a high level of competition very 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. Former champions J.P. O’Connor, Brad Penrith, and Kyle Dake have gone on to win NCAA Division I titles.

Preliminary matches begin at 5 p.m. on Friday with the quarterfinals to follow at 7:30 p.m. Saturday’s schedule begins with semifinals and wrestlebacks at 9:30 a.m. Finals are slated at 5 p.m. beginning with the tournament dedication.