Update on SW Regional: I'm now being told that IUP's Kovalchick Center is the all-but-finalized site and the regional tournament will be held on February 24 and 25. No word on further details, will hope to have some soon.
I was also told that Chestnut Ridge and Huntingdon had scheduled a match early in December, but now hearing that will only be a scrimmage.
Below is my original post regarding the Southwest Regional.
There's been some movement on the Class AA Southwest Regional front, but we are still awaiting word on where the tournament may be held.
I've been in contact with a number of people/sources over the past week who have all stated that progress is ongoing.
One thing that does appear to be a definitive change is that the tournament will likely be held on February 24 and 25, 2017, which would be a week earlier than normal, and two weeks prior to the state tournament in Hershey.
There are three districts involved in the Southwest Regional. Currently, District 5 and District 6 hold their district tournaments two weeks before the regional event. District 5 did last year, and has officially approved doing so again for this upcoming season, with the D5 Tournament set to be held at UPJ's Sports Center on February 18.
That same weekend, the District 6-AA Tournament takes place in Altoona. Where that leads us to is District 7 (WPIAL), which normally holds three sectional tournaments at various sites the weekend before its district tournament.
However, talk emerged of the WPIAL potentially altering its postseason to allow for such a change at the regional.
WPIAL wrestling chairman and Canon-McMillan athletic director Frank Vulcano confirmed to me that the sectional tournaments will be held on February 17 and the district tournament will be on the next day, the 18th. The three sectionals are all to be held at Canon-Mac as well, instead of three different locations. Vulcano didn't elaborate on tournament details (still be looked at), though I think some changes (five match limit in a day, etc.) would have to be looked at in a one-day district tournament for the size of D7.
That opens the door for the regional tournament to be held a week earlier than usual.
Now, back to where to hold it.
Two years ago, it appeared as if IUP's Kovalchick Center was the destination, only to be changed to Canon-McMillan later when the season was ongoing. According to those I've spoken to, IUP is the frontrunner as the February 24-25 weekend is available, as an away doubleheader for the Crimson Hawks' basketball teams are on the schedule.
Certainly, a site more centralized to the whole regional would be ideal. Ask schools like Juniata and Penns Valley about the travel to the southwestern corner of the state?
That said, my opinion is that Vulcano and his staff at Canon-Mac did a very nice job with the Southwest Regional the past two years. Especially with the mat changes (3 in main gym, 2 in back gym) last year, the tournament ran very smoothly.
Two years ago, one drawback to IUP was the Thursday-Friday format, which does not appear to be an issue if a contract can be worked out. Cost is another hurdle, as rumors had it very high if the tournament was going to be held there in 2015.
Other potential locations include Mount Aloysius, which has a spacious newer facility. The Cambria County War Memorial will not be available this coming season, even on the final weekend of February as the Johnstown Tomahawks are playing on that Friday night and again on Saturday afternoon.
One person "in the know" told me that if all else fails, Canon-McMillan would likely be the location for a third straight year. Canon-Mac is set to hold the WPIAL Class AAA Tournament, but that will be held March 3-4, with the PIAA Tournaments going March 9-11.
