It's the inaugural Maryland Independent Schools State Tournament, and tournament director Haswell M. Franklin and his eight-member committee are trying to make sure it comes off without a hitch.
Several of the committee members are parents of competing wrestlers.
The parents of McDonogh's Dave Trudil, Cheryl and Dave, were charged with preparing the tournament program and the bracket sheets for each of the eight sessions.
They will be assisted by Jack Hollick, father of Loyola's Nick Hollick, in making available computerized and updated bracket sheets after each session.
Bullis coach Bob Bunting will split time between being the tournament's on-site director and trying to coach his son, Bobby, the third seed at 119 pounds.
"It's going to be a tough job for everyone, but it's going to be run the way a high school state championship tournament should," said Franklin, chairman of the Maryland State Wrestling Association.
"It's going to be a true double-elimination tournament, with every wrestler getting at least two matches and the top six places getting awards."
Wrestling begins at 4:30 today at Bullis in Montgomery County, and again tomorrow at 10 a.m. Tomorrow's consolation finals are slated for 6 p.m., followed by the finals at approximately 7:30.
Team trophies will be given for the first-, second- and third-place finishers among A Division teams, such as Mount St. Joseph, Gilman and McDonogh. A fourth trophy will be awarded to the highest-finishing B Division squad, such as Spalding or Annapolis Area Christian.
The 26-team field could boil down to a dual-meet, title-round battle between Mount St. Joseph, ranked No. 1 both in the area and the state, and DeMatha of Hyattsville, ranked No. 3 in Maryland.
But Gaels coach Paul Triplett doesn't see it that way.
"I think there's plenty of other good wrestlers from other teams in the field who could make things interesting," said Triplett.
"Calvert Hall and Gilman have two or three real good individuals who are tough and who are ranked, as do some other teams."
The Gaels have top seeds in David Inkman (140) and Danny DeVivo (160), and No. 2 seeds Eric Shafer (119), Jake Lissau (125), Tyran Dungee (145) and Kenny Hunter (heavyweight).
DeMatha's top seeds are Todd Beckerman (119), Billy Phillips (130), Robert Alexander (135) and Matt Allman (152). Brian Page is a No. 2 seed at 140 pounds.
Beckerman, a Crofton resident whose career record is 132-1, is expected to win easily.
Inkman and Page represent the only possible title-bout meeting between Nos. 1 and 2 seeds from Mount St. Joseph and DeMatha. Inkman might have the edge, having won the Annapolis Tournament, 6-5, over an Altoona wrestler who had downed Page, 9-3, two bouts earlier.
Other No. 1 seeds from the area are Calvert Hall wrestlers Gino Amasia (112) and Brian Kapp (125), and McDonogh's J.R. Plienis (heavyweight).
The No. 2 seeds from the local area are Calvert Hall's Rob Johns (103), McDonogh wrestlers Trudil (130) and Martius Harding (171), Friends' Ethan Goldberg (152), Boys' Latin's Erik Fitez (160) and John Carroll's Greg Stotler (189).
"I don't think it's going to be a matter of Mount St. Joseph against DeMatha," Triplett said. "There should be some good wrestling."
PHONE IN STATISTICS
The Baltimore Sun compiles boys and girls basketball, wrestling and indoor track and field individual statistics Sundays between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at (410) 332-6200 or long distance 1-800-829-8000 Ext. 6200.
For basketball we compile statistics on individuals for points (games/total points/average), rebounds (games/total rebounds/average), assists (games/total assists/average). The statistics should be cumulative each week.
For wrestling we compile the top records for each weight classification.
For indoor track and field and swimming we compile the top performances in each event. Coaches should phone in the top performances for events on Sundays or immediately after meets end.
Top performances also can be faxed to (410) 783-2518.
Coaches also should phone in boys and girls Player of the Week nominations during this time (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) for events from the previous week.