By Matthew Reichl, Item Editor

The winter sports season begins in earnest this week around the region and throughout the PIAA.

After being able to digest some early-season scrimmages, the final week of practices culminates when the Hawks host their Tip-Off Tournaments next weekend with the boys’ and girls’ teams in action at Hamburg Area High School.

Cocalico, Fleetwood and Octorara all make the way to Hamburg that weekend for the boys’ tournament.

The first game of the tournament begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 with the second game scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. The consolation game of the tournament will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, featuring the two losing teams from Friday. The two winners face off for the tournament title at 7:30 p.m. All these tournament games will be held in the New Gym.

There will also be a JV tournament Saturday morning. Games from the invited schools will be held in the new and old gyms simultaneously at 9 a.m. The consolation and championship games will be held in similar fashion at 10:15 a.m.

The Hawks continue the home cooking with a pair of games in the early part of the following week: on Wednesday against Twin Valley at 6 p.m., and against Schuylkill Valley on Friday at 6:15 p.m.

The girls’ tournament begins at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon. The consolation and championship games will be held at 3 and 4:30 p.m., respectively, on Saturday afternoon.

The girls’ JV tournament will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the new and old gyms, with the consolation and championship games starting at 12:45 p.m.

The lady Hawks also play a pair of games after the tournament, against Lebanon on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and at Schuylkill Valley at 6:15 p.m.

For the wrestlers at Hamburg, they begin Dec. 16 with a bout against Brandywine Heights in the old gym at 6:30 p.m. and host at the Hamburg Tri tournament with Kutztown and Tulpehocken on Dec. 22 at 4:30 p.m.

The Hawks bowling team gets underway at 4 p.m. on Dec. 14 against Reading High at Hoffman Lanes. On Dec. 16, Hamburg plays Exeter at Hoffman Lanes at 4 p.m.

The Trojans at Tulepehocken also start the basketball season with a Tip-Off Tournament at Lebanon High School. On Friday, Dec. 11, Tulpehocken is scheduled to play ELCO in the first round at 6 p.m. Depending on the result, the consolation game of the tournament will be held on Saturday at Lebanon.

The boys’ team will play its first home game of the season on Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 6:30 p.m. against Conrad Weiser.

The girls’ team at Tulpehocken travels to Fleetwood for its season-opening tournament. The tournament concludes on Saturday at a time not announced.

The girls’ also host Wyomissing on Thusday, with the game scheduled to tip at 6:15 p.m. Tulpehocken will travel to Northern Lebanon on Dec. 19 for a 1 p.m. game.

Tulpehocken’s wrestlers get a late start to the season and aren’t scheduled for any bouts until Dec. 15 at Williams Valley.

Schuylkill Valley’s boys’ team is the only squad not starting its season in tournament fashion.

Instead, the Panthers boys’ team open their home schedule hosting Upper Perkiomen at 6 p.m.

The girls, however, have their first home game against Susquehanna Township HS on Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m.

On the mat, Schuylkill Valley’s wrestlers will be busy, too, in the first week of winter sports action.

On Dec. 11, the Panthers head to Williamsport for the Top Hat Tournament, beginning at 5 p.m. Top Hat continues Saturday at 10 a.m.

The Panthers bowling team hits the lanes for a Dec. 14 match against Oley Valley and a Dec. 16 match against Central Catholic. Both will be held at 3:45 p.m. at Heister Lanes.

The Schuylkill Valley swim team will have their first meet on Dec. 11 at Blue Mountain at 4:30 p.m., with the Tri-Meet at Springfield the following day, at 10 a.m.

They will then have their first home meet hosting Exeter at the Natatorium on Dec. 16 at 4:30 p.m.