Nansemond River High School will play host to the fifth annual Mike Duman Toys for Tots Holiday Invitational, featuring 20 wrestling teams from around the area today and tomorrow.

Seventeen competing schools hail from Virginia, including King’s Fork High School and Lakeland High School, while three will come up from North Carolina.

Warriors assistant coach John Bostwick organized the event and encouraged people to attend because most of the teams will be here from the area. He said the invitational, designed for individual wrestlers, will showcase great local, regional and state-level talent, and will “help simulate the post-season for our kids.”

“Come out to help support the Toys for Tots,” he said, also highlighting that the event supports Warriors wrestling.

“This is probably like our largest fund-raiser for the year,” he said. Because it has grown, it has enabled Nansemond River to give its wrestlers more exposure in out-of-town tournaments.

Last year, the Warriors were able to do one overnight trip, and this year they will do two.

On Thursday, Lakeland head coach Jamaal Jones cited some of the benefits for his wrestlers to participate.

“It’s always good to go up against unfamiliar opponents,” he said. “Tomorrow and Saturday will be a great measuring tool.”

On Friday only, adults can purchase a two-day all-session pass for $17 or $15 if they bring a new, unwrapped toy. If purchasing for admission on only one day, Friday will cost $10 and Saturday will be $12.

For students from age 11 up to high school seniors, on Friday only they can buy a two-day all-session pass for $12 or $10 if they bring a new, unwrapped toy. For an individual day, Friday will cost $6 and Saturday will be $8.

Children 10 and under will be granted admission for free.

Competition will begin on Friday at 4 p.m. and on Saturday at 10 a.m.

To follow the results match-by-match online, visit www.TrackWrestling.com and click on the link for the Mike Duman Toys for Tots Holiday Invitational.