The Alle-Kiski region is a hotbed of wrestling intensity where you can see some of the best wrestling action in the state. Last year, the AA Burrell Bucs pounded their way to third-place in the state and Kiski muscled into fourth-place in AAA.

Then, a large arsenal of wrestlers from these schools rocketed into the cauldron of individual post-season action. But when it was all over, there was only one left standing: the concept that when you are a wrestler, it is never over. Many threw themselves straight into Greco-Roman wrestling and then into summer competitions across the state; some even journeyed across the country.

It's all about being the best and doing what it takes to get it done. It never stops and the intensity only escalates this time of year.

Alle-Kiski Today is putting the spotlight on some of the teams and matches to watch in January. These fierce competitions are the proving grounds for post-season play in February and March, the grind stone that sharpens these athletes. They're the place to see wrestlers and teams that have a strong opportunity of going deep into the WPIAL and state team and individual tournaments.

Alle-Kiski Today is proud to be presenting some of these intense matches on Comcast On Demand. We've already covered the Fox Chapel/Kiski and Highlands/Riverview match-ups in December. These matches and upcoming matches can be found at On Demand under the Your Hometown sports folder and watched anytime. We'll be also be featuring commentary and also interviews with coaches and wrestlers. You can watch it at your leisure, when you want to watch it. Intensity On Demand.

Intense Matches in January:

• January 4th: Golden Ram Clash with Buccaneer Brigade: Highlands and Burrell kick off the New Year at Burrell High School. The Wrestlin' Rams are on the upswing and will hit hard, but the Bucs--seven of whom wrestled on last year's Final Four squad--are fierce and will defend their territory with reckless abandon.

• January 11th - Raider Search for Viking Plunder: Riverview lands at Valley. The Riverview Raiders may be building a program and skippered by two new coaches, but those coaches are two of the most experienced around, with over 700 wins between them. This year's band of Vikings are young but Valley's coach has a strong Viking-training program in place. They'll be ready.

• January 11th - Fox Fight at the Mustang Corral: Plum High School hosts Fox Chapel and will try to contain the Foxes. The Mustangs graduated a state-calibre wrestler last year, though they have been building a strong core of athletes on the mat ready to step in. However, the Foxes have a disciplined team led by at least two wrestlers who may see time at the states before they graduate.

• January 18th - Wildcat Swipe at Cavalier Force: The Kittanning Wildcats will be on the prowl at Kiski Area High School, looking for a win. They are led by a strong, championship wrestler in Josh Serene. The Kiski Cavs lost a few seniors from last year's Final Four finish, but they've replenished their lines and will be testing their strength against the Wildcats before facing one of their toughest opponents next.

• January 21st - Cavalier Attack at Buccaneer Stronghold: Kiski Area at Burrell High School has the makings of being one of the top local area matches this year. Both squads are ranked right at the top of the WPIAL and both are rumbling through opponents. Last year's "Backyard Brawl" between the two teams was canceled due to snow. The Cavs are AAA and Burrell is AA, but that divisional line is a whole lot more blurry when they are on the mat together. With Kiski's Connellsville match unlikely to be made up this year, the two teams may be each other's worse WPIAL nightmare.

• January 25th - Buc Hunts in Viking Territory: The Burrell Bucs go to Valley High School to continue their rivalry with the Vikings. Burrell has three starters that each qualified for states last year. The Vikings always bring a strong dose of intensity to this match and are led by four seniors.

• January 25th - Cavalier Roundup in Mustang Country: The Kiski Area Cavaliers wrestle at Plum High School. Several of the Kiski wrestlers work out over the summer at a private wrestling club that has produced some strong wrestlers. But some Plum wrestlers also work out at another private wrestling club as well. Despite being young, the Mustangs will try to give the Cavs a run for their money.

• January 26th - Fox Hunts on Golden Ram Grounds. Highlands hosts the Fox Chapel Foxes in what should be a very interesting match-up. Both teams have been preparing all season for playoffs, which begin shortly after this match, and should both be at the top of their game. The Golden Rams are playing up a class higher out of their AA division, as they hope to give their wrestlers some toughening-up before ripping out of the chute into post-season. The AAA Foxes, though, have been playing against tough opponents all season and will be formidable.

*all matches at 7pm

Alle-Kiski Wrestling Teams

Team: Kiski Area Cavaliers

Head Coach: Chuck Tursky

• Just before Christmas, 11 of Kiski's starters (which included seniors Tyler Oravec, Zach McKendree, Scott Joseph, and Matt Riddle) had a combined individual record of 116-25

• Oravec suffered a finger injury in October and missed several bouts, returning to play in December. He remains undefeated, 7-0, at press time.

• McKendree is 13-0 at press time and passed 100 career wins around Thanksgiving.

Team: Highlands

Head Coach: Jeff Pollick

• The biggest challenge the Rams face, according to Coach Jeff Pollikc, is "...staying healthy. We've had some injuries and have not had a complete lineup yet [as of December]. We get one back, then lose another."

• It's the largest team Highlands has ever had, with 20 wrestlers out this year.

• As of just before Christmas, Ed Petrosky, Nathan Tomporoski and Nick Glesk were all 9-0. Watch for Tomporoski and Petrosky to go deep into the post-season. Tomporoski finished seventh in the states last year and Petrosky was a regional qualifier last year.

Team: Fox Chapel

Head Coach: Ron Frank

• Keep your eyes on Brian Letters, Paul Deluca and Brett Skonieczny. All three have gone deep into post-season play in the past, and their playoff experience with the stronger level of competition there has only made them better.

• The Foxes as a team should continue to improve. The coaching staff has a strong program in place. They continue to beef up the Foxes' schedule so that the stiffer competition will build better wrestlers.

Team: Riverview

Head Coach: Richard Bane, Co-Coach Stan Mousetis

• The Raiders are led by seniors Brian Allison and Chris Lackey. Helping to set the pace are sophomores Mike DiCocco, Josh Dezort and Matt Cope, a junior.

• Both coaches are first-year coaches at Riverview, but Bane coached at Gateway 34 years and Mousetis coached at schools including Kiski Prep, Plum, and Franklin Regional and have a combined 70 years of coaching experience between them. They've both seen winning campaigns as well as tough seasons and know how to build strong programs.

• Bane sees a lot of opportunity for success in the seasons ahead. He says, "Riverview is a nice school district with nice kids and good families. We're not fighting grades or conduct--we have the right kind of kids there." The Raiders are a little short-handed on wrestlers and continue to look for more kids to come out and be part of the program. Bane notes, "It's a chance for a young man to be a standout. Even though it takes a few years to build a team, because of the one-on-one, you can have a chance to be a state champ. It's a good companion sport for other sports. It's a good opportunity in a small community to be a hero.

Team: Valley

Head Coach: Steve Ansani

• Four experienced wrestlers, Chris Alexander, Pat Perriello, Jeremy Lookabaugh and Mike Nader, are helping form a strong time-tested nucleus for this young team. Alexander was fourth in the WPIAL AA last year and one match away from states.

• Ansani says that despite his team's youth, "they are hardworking individuals who strive to work on technique and aggressiveness, a very well-conditioned team willing to learn and progress in their sport."

• The Vikings graduated Logan Downes, a state-calibre wrestler, last year. But he still comes in and practices with Valley wrestlers. "It's good for them to see somebody like that," the coach notes.

Team: Burrell

Head Coach: Chris Como

• The Bucs, a AA squad, are on a roll this season. They won the Penn-Cambri tournament and came in third at the Eastern Invitational, behind two AAA teams--and one was Kiski Area.

• Burrell finished third in the state last year and have seven starting wrestlers from that team who are back, including two pairs of brothers: Derek and Devon Maloney, Josh and Jordan Shields, Damian Majocha, Ryan Walker and Shane Welsh.

• Look for all seven of those starters, plus Zach Pisano, to get 20-plus wins this season. All eight will have a good chance to qualify for the states.

• Josh Shields, a senior, joined the century club when he locked up his 100th win in early December.

Team: Plum

Head Coach: Chuck Froehlich

• Seniors Billy Bonura, John Antinucci, Steve Gresock, and Josh Deckle help anchor the Mustangs this year.

• Seven starters are back. Six of them are juniors, which gives Plum a nice core of experience the next two seasons.

• Bonura and Ryan Soncini, a junior, each finished third in the section last year.