Newark, DE (Dec 12, 2002):  The Delaware Wrestling Alliance and Hodgson Vo-Tech co-host the 10th annual Delaware "Beast of the East" high school wrestling tournament beginning Saturday December 21 at the University of Delaware's Bob Carpenter Center.     Our main objective in organizing and presenting the "Beast of the East" is to raise funds so the many qualified individuals in our state can achieve their career goals through higher learning. Last year a total of $20,000.00 in scholarships was awarded to four wrestlers, Bobby Shaw, Chris Lazartic, Adam Ralph, and Joe Cylc. The nine year total is over $116,000.    Brute's John Purnell made it clear with one statement, "With 80 teams from 15 states, eight of them Nationally ranked, and 13 teams ranked first in their state, this has to be the top high school event in the nation. The Beast is the MECCA of college recruiting!"    The competition includes 80 teams from 15 states (Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia), with team state champs from Alabama, Delaware (div 1&2), Maryland, New Hampshire, New York ,New Jersey, Ohio (div 1), Pennyslvania ('AA'), Virginia (3A), and the national prep champs.      Six of the top 15 teams as ranked by Wrestling USA Magazine will participate  including: #1 Blair Academy, #2 Great Bridge, #4 Northampton, #5. St Paris Graham #7. St Edward, and #15 Absegami.  There are over 145 nationally ranked individuals, 17 rated #1 in their class, seven are #2, and eight are rated #3!  For the first time in tournament history, the state of Delaware has 15 teams entered led by four time state finalist, Pat Atkinson from St Mark's!      The Beast will present the inaugural Collegiate Invitational Friday Dec 20th, with 15 Division I programs entered, featuring returning All Americans Jake Percival of Ohio University and Greg Parker of Princeton.  NCAA teams in the field include Binghamton, Bloomsburg, Buffalo, Delaware Club, Delaware State, Drexel, Duke, George Mason, Ohio University, Old Dominion, Princeton, Rider, the Citadel, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wagner, all which are looking to become the first Collegiate Beast Champions. Action begins 9am.    The DWA announced this year's Hall of Fame inductee's: Jack Holloway, seven time Delaware coach of the year at Wm Penn HS and Sheldon Thomas, National Champion, 3X All American at Clarion University, 4X Delaware State Champion.    For tournament information, tickets, real time results - visit us online at http://www.beastwrestling.com