The Coach Kelly Memorial Hurricane Team Challenge is just a one-day affair, meaning there is no need for hotel stays.
Consequently, Manatee wrestling coach Andy Gugliemini had little trouble luring long-distance teams to his tournament.
Miami Sunset, Parkland Stoneman Douglas and Martin County are some of the teams heading west for the nine-team tournament, which gets under way at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“It’s only one day, so it’s economical,” Gugliemini said. “The teams from Miami get here early, and we put them up. We go out there, and they put us up.
“You don’t get better facing the same doggone teams every year. I tried to schedule some quality teams.”
Punta Gorda Charlotte, Tampa Riverview and Bloomingdale are also some of the teams that will be competing. Gugliemini estimates the championship round to begin around 3 p.m.
Manatee has won the tournament 10 of the past 11 years, and Gugliemini is hoping the trend continues Saturday, especially after the Canes went 2-3 during a dual tournament in Springstead last weekend.
“Hopefully, we can pick up the pieces at our tournament,” he said.
Manatee (9-4), which heads to Venice for a dual meet Wednesday, has six wrestlers ranked in the top five of their weight class in Class 2A, according to scout.com — Kyle Ballard (119, fourth), Jacob Gregory (125, second), Mike Lovitt (130, fifth), Alex Doran (135, second), Daniel Dykes (145, third) and Isaac Riley (160, third).
A state runner-up the past two seasons, Gregory missed the first half of the season with an injury and returned to the mat at Springstead.
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