Wrestling invitational returns to Palmer High

It was gone for a little while, but now it's back.

After being off the prep wrestling schedule for a couple of years, the Palmer Invitational wrestling tournament has returned.

During the hiatus of the varsity tournament, Palmer has offered events such as junior varsity meets, but organizers were able to find a hole in the schedule for this season.

Wrestling action begins at 2 p.m. today and 8 a.m. tomorrow. The championship matches are scheduled for Saturday evening with an awards ceremony to follow.

The 2004 Palmer Invite will feature both small and large schools teams. Small school 3A squads have been wrestling for nearly a month, while the Palmer Invite is the first major tournament of the season for the large school wrestlers.

Chugiak High School's Bob Bailey Invitational is normally the first major 4A prep wrestling event of the season in Alaska, but was moved back to week two. Palmer assistant principal Jim Simmons said organizers of the Chugiak tournament worked extremely well with the organizers of the Palmer Invite to ensure both schools the opportunity to host quality events.

"It's positive for the kids, positive for the programs," Simmons said. "You want your kids to go to the best possible tournament every weekend."

Fifteen teams are enlisted in the 2004 Palmer Invite. The field includes small schools squads Eielson, Valdez, Glenallen, Nikiski, Hutchinson, Nenana, and Houston, as well as large schools Palmer, Colony, Wasilla, Homer, South Anchorage, East Anchorage, Chugiak and Lathrop.

Other major tournaments on the 2004-05 prep wrestling schedule include the North-South Tournament, Nov. 19-20 at Soldotna, the Region III duals, Dec. 3-4 at Colony, the West High School Invite, Dec. 17-18 in Anchorage, the West Valley Invitational, Jan. 7-8 in Fairbanks and the Glen Vanderaw Tournament, Jan. 15 at Dimond High School in

Anchorage.