While many wrestling squads throughout the area normally get in a match or two prior to their first tournament, for the Maple Grove Red Dragons, their "Kick-Off Classic" is truly that.
"This is the kick-off to the season for us," Maple Grove coach Trevor Delahoy said. "It'll be the first (matches) of the year for them and they'll get right into it. (This tournament) kind of sets the tone."
It will certainly be a trial by fire for the hosts. Actually, it should be for all the participants given the teams that are involved.
With 16 squads taking part this year, including wrestlers from solid programs like Fredonia, Springville-Griffith and Falconer, the Classic is shaping up to be quite the tournament.
"We're excited," Delahoy said. "We've got a couple of new schools coming and some different competition. So it should be good."
Cassadaga Valley coach Jeremy Beichner, whose group is coming off a slim, one-point victory over Frewsburg in their season-opening match, agreed.
"It's a very good mix of local and no-local competition," he said.
Along with the aforementioned teams, also taking part is Panama, Cattaraugus-Little Valley, Niagara Falls, Sweet Home. Allegany-Limestone, Dunkirk, Gowanda, Hamburg, Lake Shore, Akron and West Seneca East.
Weigh-ins begin at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and competition gets underway at 9:30. The finals are tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m.
Tickets are $3 per session (two). For all day, the cost is $5.