There is rarely any giving at wrestling tournaments other than giving opponents a hard time, at least until the awards ceremonies roll around.
McCallie, however, is hoping to change that this year when doors open for its annual two-day tournament. The wrestling team is encouraging the spirit of giving. There will be Salvation Army toy drive collection bins at each of the two entrances.
"The only rules are that toys need to be new and they're for children age 12 and under," McCallie assistant Cody Cleveland said. "They told me they have a desperate need for bicycles."
Cleveland said the team was not equipped this year to accept checks or cash donations.
The McCallie Invitational is one of three tournaments in the Chattanooga area this weekend. The annual Bradley Central Invitational is also Friday and Saturday while Chattanooga Christian's Charger Invitational is scheduled to start at 9 Saturday morning.
There are 21 teams at CCS, 30 at Bradley and 28 at McCallie.
The bulk of the teams at Bradley are instate, and that list includes Bearden, Blackman, Central, Clarksville, East Hamilton, East Ridge, Rather Ran, Franklin, Halls, Hardin Valley, Maryville Heritage, Hixson, Karns, Knox Catholic, Maryville, Notre Dame, Sevier County, South Doyle, Stewarts Creek, Tennessee High, Tullahoma, Union County and William Blount.
Huntsville, Scottsboro and Mortimer Jordan are coming from Alabama and Commerce, Etowah and Pierce County from Georgia.
The Bradley field will take to the mats at 5 this afternoon and at 9 Saturday morning. Finals should start not later than 3 p.m.
The McCallie tournament is Georgia-heavy including Cambridge, the 5A state champion; Cass, the 4A state runner-up; Alexaneder, the 4A third-place finisher and Woodland, the 5A fourth-place finisher. Tennessee teams joining the host Blue Tornado are Brentwood and Brentwood Academy, Cleveland, Soddy-Daisy and West Creek. There is one team, Hillcrest, from South Carolina.
The tournament's first session starts at 5:30 and includes round of 32 and round of 16 matches. Quarterfinal and the first round of consolations will begin at 7.
Saturday's action resumes at 10 a.m. and championship and consolation finals are set to start at 3:30.
Among local teams in the CCS event are Boyd-Buchanan, East Ridge, Red Bank, Sale Creek, Signal Mountain, Sequatchie County, Tyner, Howard and Brainerd.
"We have 21 teams and had several more wanting to get in," CCS coach Josh Craft. "Many are A/AA teams, and I think it will be a pretty good measuring stick for the state because there are several state medalists in the field."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765.