Last year’s 2023 Clyde Cole Champions, which featured BGAH’s Darren Florence, who won his fourth consecutive Clyde Cole tournament. This year, 18 teams look to produce at least one Clyde Cole champion, including local BGAH, Norwich, S-E, Oxford/Greene, and Sidney. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

OXFORD – The 61st annual Clyde Cole Wrestling Tournament, cosponsored by the Oxford Rotary Club and Oxford Academy & Central School, will be held in the Oxford High School gymnasium on Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7.

The tournament will host 18 teams including several local teams being challenged by teams from other parts of the state. This year's local field includes Oxford-Greene, Norwich, Sherburne-Earlville, Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton-Harpursville, and Sidney. Other regional teams include Chenango Forks, Vestal, Groton and Spencer-VanEtten. Strong returning contenders from outside the area include Canastota, Carthage, Cobles-Richmond Elder-Liberty-Sullivan West (ELS) and perennial powerhouses Queensbury and Shenendehowa.

More than 8,000 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 three NCAA Division I Wrestling Champions; four-time NCAA champion and World Champion Kyle Dake (Lansing), J.P. O’Connor from Oxford, and National Wrestling Hall of Famer, Brad Penrith from Windsor.

Weigh-ins will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday and on Saturday from 8 to 9 a.m. The tournament officially gets underway on Friday with preliminary matches from 5 to 7 p.m. before Quarterfinals from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the semi-finals and the first round wrestle backs will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. followed by wrestle backs and consolation matches until 5 p.m. Tournament Finals will start at 6 p.m. and should last until 9 p.m. with awards to follow.

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 2nd and 3rd 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 number of points scored against), and a Sportsmanship Plaque (wrestler who displays the best qualities of sportsmanship).

Please note that Saturday’s wrestling schedule could be moved ahead if wrestling allows, but finals will not start any earlier than 5 p.m if this happens.

Admission will be charged both nights. Adults are $4 while students are $3. There is also a tournament pass, which can be purchased Friday night at the door for $10 for adults while students are $6. The tournament pass includes all sessions.

Along with being co-sponsors of the tournament, the Rotary Club is also providing breakfast and lunch, along with other snacks in the High School cafeteria. The Rotary Club uses the tournament proceeds to benefit Community Service projects, especially for the youth. The Rotary is always seeking new members who are community-minded. Contact Rotarian Terry Stark at 607-743-0679 for more information.

Good luck to all wrestlers.

-Information from the Oxford Rotary Club and the Oxford/Greene Wrestling Team