The Mount St. Joseph wrestling team has gained legendary status through the years by winning 19 consecutive Maryland Scholastic Association titles.
Yesterday, the area's top-ranked team put itself in good shape to start yet another streak.
The host Gaels placed seven wrestlers into the semifinals to move near the top of the pack after the opening day of the first Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament.
Boys' Latin is in first with 48 points, followed by Gilman (47), Mount St. Joe (41 1/2 ), Calvert Hall (27 1/2 ) and McDonogh (25 1/2 ).
But the results are deceiving for a number of reasons.
The Gaels have more wrestlers still in contention than either of the top two teams (who have six each).
What's more, the two-time defending National Prep School Tournament champions didn't earn any team points for their eight first-round byes -- while the top two teams each had more opportunities to score.
And of the wrestlers remaining, Mount St. Joe has twice as many top-two seeds than either the Greyhounds or Lakers.
The inaugural tournament includes 12 private schools from the defunct MSA, and 14 other public schools now compete in public school competitions.
"It's different this year because it's a different league," said Gaels coach Paul Triplett. "But the kids always get pumped up to keep the streak going, and this year maybe even start a new streak in the MIAA."
After nearly two decades of dominance, St. Joe wrestlers say they still have plenty of motivation to win.
Some say the team's winning tradition is motivation in itself.
"I think everybody knows that St. Joe has to keep its reputation alive," said 145-pounder Tyran Dungee (32-4), who advanced with a 39-second pin in the quarterfinals.
"We just try to pump each other up and win for the team."
Other Mount St. Joe wrestlers advancing include Jon Pitonzo (103), Jake Lissau (125), Danny Mattson (130), David Inkman (140), Danny DeVivo (160) and Kenny Hunter (heavyweight).
Leading Boys' Latin are Gary Colbert (112), Timmy Berger (135) and Erik Fitez (160), while Arman Taghizadeh (119), Kirk Caldroney (145) and Greg Plitt (171) head the list for Gilman.
The tournament continues today at 10 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 3:30.
There are a number of intriguing matchup possibilities, but none more so than the potential heavyweight final between top-seeded J.R. Plienis of McDonogh and second-seeded Hunter of Mount St. Joseph.
Both are former MSA champions and have met three times this season.
After Plienis took the first encounter with a 38-second pin, Hunter lost the next two by close decisions.