The days between Christmas and New Year’s Day are among the most exciting of the high school sports winter season. That’s because many of the Inland area’s best basketball, wrestling and soccer teams will be competing in prestigious local tournaments. Leading the way is The Classic at Damien b oys basketball tournament happening Dec. 26-27 and 29-30. The event continues to expand with a record 144 teams — nine divisions each with 16 teams — playing at nine different sites. There will be 39 IE Varsity teams competing at The Classic this year. Roosevelt is the two-time defending champion of the Platinum Division. The Mustangs begin the quest for a third straight title Friday morning when they take on Sunnyslope (Phoenix) in a first-round game. Centennial squares off against O’Connor (Phoenix), while Damien faces Parish Episcopal (Dallas). Rancho Christian and Etiwanda will be competing for this year’s Gold Division championship, while Rancho Cucamonga is the lone Inland team in the Diamond Division. Rancho Verde and Aquinas are among this year’s Silver Division contenders. Here are the other Inland teams competing at tournament by division • Emerald: Arrowhead Christian Academy, Murrieta Valley, Santiago, Vista Murrieta • Bronze: Colony, King, Linfield Christian, Los Osos, Paloma Valley • Green: Alta Loma, Chino, Chino Hills, Claremont, Liberty, Orange Vista, Redlands East Valley, Temecula Valley • Cooper: Bonita, Cajon, Chaffey, Diamond Bar, Norco Rialto, • Iron: Citrus Valley, Diamond Ranch, Don Lugo, Fontana, Jurupa Hills, San Dimas, Temecula Prep, Western Christian. The majority of games in the top two divisions will be played at Damien’s Athletic Center and Event Center. Other venues being used this season are Bonita, Charter Oak, Claremont, San Dimas, St. Lucy’s and Western Christian high schools, Ramona Middle School and Mt. San Antonio College. For more information, including daily schedules and results: classicatdamien,org. Orange Vista junior Zahra Stewart has been selected the IE Varsity Girls Wrestler of the Year. Stewart was the CIF State champion at 125 pounds this season in Perris on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) CORONA’S QUEEN OF THE HILL WRESTLING Corona High School once against will host the Queen of the Hill girls wrestling tournament on Dec. 29 and 30. The Queen of the Hill is considered one of the top girls wrestling tournaments in the nation because of the elite field of teams and wrestlers. This year, more than 120 teams and 700 wrestlers from three states (California, Nevada and Arizona) are scheduled to compete. Corona coach Jim Bowers said three Canadian high schools also are sending wrestlers for the first time in the event’s 12-year history. Orange Vista’s Zahra Stewart will be looking to become a rare three-time Queen of the Hill champion. She is 1 of 6 wrestlers scheduled to compete who won CIF State titles last season. The others are Chino’s Natalie Blanco, Leilani Lemus of Clovis, Marina’s Aubree Gutierrez, Epenesa Elison of Los Altos, and Brawley’s Lauren Zaragoza. Other Inland wrestlers to watch include past state placers Liberty’s Anna Bozanic and Corona’s Jestinah Solomua. Corona captured the team championship last season, and all of last season’s top 10 teams are returning to the event. ROOSEVELT SOCCER’S WINTER CLASSIC A handful of top Inland boys and girls soccer teams will be competing at the Winter Classic from Dec. 26-27 and 29. Matches will be played at the SilverLakes Sports Park in Norco. The top boys bracket includes tournament host Roosevelt along with Cajon, Etiwanda, Fontana, Jurupa Hills, Norco, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands East Valley, Valley View and Vista Murrieta. The top girls bracket includes Arlington, Ayala, Etiwanda, Roosevelt, San Jacinto and Valley View. OTHER TOURNAMENTS TO WATCH • The 67th edition of the San Bernardino Kiwanis Boys Basketball Tournament will take place Dec. 26-27 and 29-30 with games played at Arroyo Valley and Indian Springs high schools in San Bernardino. Yucaipa is the defending champion and opens against Bloomington on Friday. Other Inland teams competing are Arroyo Valley, Banning, Carter, Hillcrest, Indian Springs, Jurupa Valley, Kaiser, Notre Dame, Redlands, San Gorgonio and Vista del Lago. • San Gorgonio hosts its annual boys and girls soccer tournaments at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex on Dec. 27 and 29-30. Both champions from last season are back to defend their titles. San Gorgonio won the boys title with a penalty shootout victory over Arroyo Valley, while Rancho Cucamonga won the girls title with a 2-1 win over Brea Olinda. • The final two rounds of the Ramona’s Winter Classic girls basketball tournament will take place Friday and Saturday. Friday’s semifinal matchups are Ramona vs. Beaumont (5:45 p.m.) and Riverside Poly vs. Crean Lutheran (7 p.m.). The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday. • Upland will be hosting its annual Blackwatch boys wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday. Van Nuys Birmingham is back to defend its team title, but will face another tough challenge from Etiwanda (second place last season). 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