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.