For the host Wildcats, yesterday's Arundel Holiday Wrestling Tournament was more than a chance to face some stiff competition during the winter break.
It was a matter of pride.
In a tournament that they have rarely lost, the 13th-ranked Wildcats edged No. 10 Chesapeake, 197 1/2 -177, for the team championship.
Loyola was third with 155 points, Centennial fourth (141) and North County fifth (136).
It marked the third straight year and 13th in the past 14 that Arundel has captured the title -- a fact that stands as a source of pride for Wildcats wrestlers.
"It's important to all of us, but especially me since it's my senior year," said Arundel 135-pounder Tim Kelly, whose pin against Chesapeake's Jason Schmitt clinched the team championship for the Wildcats.
"We knew it was a close match going into the finals, and we knew we had to win the head-to-head matchups [with Chesapeake]."
Kelly, wrestling in the second and final contest pitting the two powers, battled through a close match to pin his man at 4:40.
"That's what made the difference," said Arundel coach Buddy Hepfer.
"If their kid beats ours, they could've easily beaten us."
The other head-to-head matchup resulted in a pinfall victory for Chesapeake 103-pounder Travis Gottlich.
Other champions included Centennial's Lance Rhodes (112), Arundel's Phil Schleifer (119), Chesapeake's Matt Howard (125) and Carl Cicchetti (130), Loyola's Dave Riley (140), Arundel's Mark Chesla (152), North County's Joe Key ( 160), Meade's Adam Butts (171), Centennial's Joon Kim (189) and Wilde Lake's Carlo Gerstenfeld (heavyweight).
For Schleifer, who scored a 9-0 decision over Loyola's Greg Miller, the last few months have been a roller coaster of sorts for the senior.
After suffering through an illness as a member of the Old Mill varsity during the first few weeks of the season, he decided to transfer to Arundel and has found the new situation to his liking.
"I was really glad that Arundel had a strong team for me to transfer to," said Schleifer, now 3-0.
"I finally feel like I'm back at full strength, and I think that I can really contribute to the team."
Schleifer was just one of six Arundel wrestlers to make the finals.
For Hepfer, however, this tournament was not entirely about winning and losing.
"This is a very relaxed tournament," said Hepfer.
"It's not a blood and guts kind of thing. We come here over the Christmas holiday to gain some experience."
And after yet another victory, it's clear that the Wildcats are doing it quite well.