The event, in its 34th year, will be held at Athens Drive High School on Dec. 16 and 17.
Local schools expected to participate include defending 4-A and dual state champions Cary as well as Athens Drive, Cedar Ridge, East Wake, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Gray's Creek, Jack Britt, Leesville, Millbrook, Southeast Raleigh, Southern Durham, Wakefield, and Wilson Fike.
Catawba Brandys, the defending 2-A and dual state title-holders, also will compete, as well as 1-A dual champs Chatham Central and 4-A state team runner-up Durham Riverside.
Other teams will travel from Charlotte, Greensboro and the N.C. coast, as well as from Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina, including Chesterfield -- the defending 1-A S.C. champions.
Star wrestlers from North Carolina who are expected to compete include Bandys' Byron Sigmon, a two-time state champion and National Open High School Champion who has a 143-5 career record; Durham Riverside's Colton Palmer, a two-time state champion who was 61-0 last season; Cary's Nick Koren, a 4-A individual state champion; and Millbrook's Justin Allen, a 4-A state champion.
Wrestlers from outside North Carolina will feature Brian Wright, a Virginia state champion and Junior High School National Champion and Corneilius Selke, two-time South Carolina champion.
The first round of the tournament, which is sanctioned by the N.C. High School Athletic Association, will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 16. The finals are expected to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17. Spectators will be charged $6 for admission to the rounds on Friday and $10 for Saturday's rounds.
Medals will be awarded to the top four placers in 14 weight classes, and trophies will be presented to the team champion, runner-up and most falls in least time.
A complete list of all teams expected to compete at the 34th Annual WRAL High School Invitational Wrestling Tournament follows:
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