PEMBROKE - UNCP wrestling's long-standing preseason tournament, the Pembroke Classic, has been renamed the PJ Smith Pembroke Classic, athletic department officials announced Monday.

"This is a fitting tribute to Coach Smith and his legacy at UNCP and in our community," said UNC Pembroke Director of Athletics, Dick Christy. "The Pembroke Classic provides a wide spectrum of mat opportunities for student-athletes to compete, something that really aligns with Coach Smith's efforts to grow the sport of wrestling in our community, region, and state."

"Coach Smith started this tournament back in the '80s when he took over as head coach at UNCP, and is the longest-standing preseason tournament in the southeast, as well as one of the longest-standing in the country," said UNC Pembroke head wrestling coach OT Johnson. "As we all know, PJ was an instrumental part of wrestling in the southeast region, and this tournament is indicative of that. I had a chance to wrestle in this tournament as a collegiate athlete, and it is surreal to be honoring the man that made that possible with the renaming of this event." 

The event is still the longest-standing annual athletics event for UNC Pembroke. Admission to the PJ Smith Pembroke Classic is $10 for the day. Students with a valid student ID are free. Wrestling action is set to begin at 9 a.m.