Burrell's wrestlers have accomplished so many things on the mat as individuals, from regular-season tournament titles to state championships.
However, there is one tournament crown that has eluded the grasp of every Burrell wrestler, including some of the best grapplers in local history.
At Burrell, a Powerade title has become somewhat of a holy grail.
Burrell's wrestlers will take another shot at that prize when they compete in the 41st annual Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament on Friday and Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.
"I think we're ready for it," Burrell coach Chris Como said. "It will come down to wrestling mistake-free and putting it on our opponents."
Winning a title at Powerade is certainly one of the more difficult goals to wrap up. Some wrestlers consider that tournament to be tougher than the PIAA championships because the brackets are loaded with quality wrestlers from Pennsylvania as well as other states.
Consider this: Burrell's Joe Makara captured two state championships but never won a Powerade title during his stellar career.
Burrell's title hunt at Powerade could end this season. The Bucs will bring perhaps their best team ever to the grueling two-day tournament.
Last season, Burrell senior 135-pounder Shane Welsh took second place in the same weight class at Powerade. Welsh lost to Cedar Cliff's Bryan Ortenzio, 4-1, in the finals. Welsh went on to finish seventh at the PIAA Class AA championships.
Burrell's Devon Maloney, now graduated, also made it to the finals last year.
"It would be great to get a title," said Welsh, who has signed with Division I Lehigh. "Throughout the years, we've been slowly progressing. We got two finalists last year. We have three or four kids who could do it this year. I know I'll have competition with my teammates (to win the first Powerade title for Burrell)."
Burrell also has senior 140-pounder Jordan Shields, who won a state Class AA championship at 130 pounds last season and is 11-0 this season.
Shields won a title earlier this month in Ohio at the Ironman Tournament, which has been called the toughest high school tournament in the nation by Wrestling USA magazine.
Welsh and Shields are seeded No. 2 in their respective weight classes.
Other Burrell wrestlers to keep an eye on include: senior 152-pounder Bobby Speer, who qualified for the state championships last season; senior 215-pounder Lou Gardone, who took eighth at Powerade last year; and freshman 103-pounder David Makara, who opened eyes by placing eighth at the Ironman Tournament.
Speer is seeded No. 4, and Gardone is No. 7.
As a team last season, Burrell placed sixth -- its highest finish at Powerade.
If the Bucs get a solid performances throughout their lineup, they could challenge for a top-five finish and maybe even a team title. No local team has ever won a Powerade team championship.
"After finishing sixth last year, we feel we have a better team this year," Welsh said. "It's a good barometer for how far we are along this season. It will show if we are really ready for (the PIAA tournament) level yet."
Como added: "If we have a good weekend, we could finish in the top five or top three. There are some loaded teams. But, if we have everything go our way, we can compete for it, definitely."
41st annual Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament
When: Friday and Saturday (finals at 7:30 p.m).
Where: Canon-McMillan High School, Canonsburg.
Fast facts: This tournament has been called the "toughest" tournament in Pennsylvania and "fifth best" in the nation, by WrestlingReport.com. ... Seven states -- Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia -- will be represented. ... Participants will include six returning Powerade champions and seven returning runners-up. ... The field includes 20 individual state champs. ... In the history of the tournament, there have been only seven champs from the Alle-Kiski Valley -- five from Plum and two from Fox Chapel.
