It's the "same ole, same ole" every January in Dawgtown.

And it's not the January thaw.

It's the "January Sprint."

From December 30 to January 28, each Dawg will be engaging in a minimum of 20 bouts.

It's that time of the Dawg calendar where competition time will be out-weighing practice time.

It's that time of the year that the Dawgs live for. 

Week #1 will be "excitement city" as the Dawgs will compete in one individual tournament, a middle-of-the-week dual, then pack their bags and board a bus to Virginia for the Battlefield Team Duals.

Berwick's grapplers start off at the Jim Thorpe Holiday tournament on December 30.  Based on past history, winning seeded wrestlers can expect at least 3 matches with more action to those who may have to battle it out in the consolation bracket..

Then the Dawgs travel upriver to compete against the Meyer Mohawks on January 4.

Then it's "road trip time" for the Virginia Battlefield Duals.

This will be the second year in a row for the Dawgs to compete at the powerful "Battlefield Duals" and Berwick will once again get a total of 8 team dual matches.  And once again, it's not the number of matches that is impressive.  It's the perennial powerhouse competition the Dawgs will face that will clean out the coal dust from the coal bin.

A listing of the state and nationally ranked teams, with newly updated Amateur Wrestling News rankings released on December 26, that will be vying for the dual championship include the following:

When the Dawgs return home from Virginia, there will be little rest time.  Berwick will make the short trip up north to square-off with Lake Lehman on January 12.  Two days later the Dawgs will travel south to compete at the NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association) team duals where they will compete against 2 opponent teams, at least one of which is usually from out-of-state.

If you consider the above notable.

The big week still lies ahead.

Does excitement have a smell?  Because I think I can smell it already.

On January 17 & 18, with both consecutive days being "home matches", the Dawgs will taste the excitement and will face their stiffest district conference tests of the year when they host Pittston on the 17th and Hazleton on the 18th.

The Pittston and Hazleton home matches might see the stands a little on the crowded side.  :-)

Then it's off and away to Coughlin High School on January 21 before the Dawgs entertain the Spartans of Wyoming Valley West at home on January 25.  Berwick will then wrap-up it's regular season dual competition by making the 30 minute trip to Crestwood on January 28 to do battle with the much improved Comets.

We won't worry about February until January is over.

But for the moment, it's all about....

Dawgs.......

On Your Mark......

Set......

GO!!!

Go Dawgs!!