KNIGHTDALE - While most schools will shut down for the upcoming holiday break, Knightdale High School will open its doors to wrestling teams from four different states.

The seventh-annual Knightdale Duals are scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, Dec. 30-31. This year’s field is comprised of 32 teams from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

The dual meet format offers a total of 104 dual meets and at least six dual meets per team on eight mats over the course of the two days.

“It’s one of the largest events in the country,” said Knightdale coach Alex Von Hoene, who recruits the teams and coordinates the event. “In the past it’s been eight teams, 16 teams or 24 teams depending on the calendar and what’s convenient. This year is by far the biggest event we’ve ever held with 32 teams.”

About a fourth of the teams in the mix are from out of state, a fourth are distant in-state schools and the remaining half is comprised of teams in the Triangle area.

Von Hoene said he spent a ton of time surfing the Internet searching for this year’s field. He looked up teams in every state this side of the Mississippi River and even a few from western states.

“I try to find good teams with good coaching styles that you want your kids to match up against. We’re always looking to give our kids good exposure and share with them what wrestling at that elite level is like,” Von Hoene said.

He said teams are willing to travel long distances to attend the Knightdale Duals for the same reason, and said Knightdale’s facilities offer extra incentive.

“We’ve got one of the best facilities for high school wrestling in the southeastern United States,” Von Hoene said. “I’ve seen very few high schools that have a better set up for an event of this size than we do.”

One might imagine an event with 32 teams would bring in quite the profit, but with the large event comes the need for more hands on deck. The cost of officials, alone, for the event is about $5,000, not to mention the fact that the event offers engraved, glass trophies to the first-, second- and third-place wrestlers and the Most Outstanding Wrestler in each of the four divisions.

Von Hoene said every penny the program brings in through the event goes right back into the program.

“Whether that’s buying new shoes for a kid who can’t afford them or paying entry fees into another tournament, it’s all about providing the best opportunities for the kids,” Von Hoene said. “We’ve got 44 kids on the roster that are coming to practice and staying physically fit. Who knows what they’d be doing after school if they didn’t have this.”

Wrestling will begin at 1 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday.