No. 1 McDonogh shined in the early rounds of the 14th annual Maryland Independent Schools wrestling championships last night. The host Eagles will have wrestlers competing in all 14 weight classes when the quarterfinals start today, and they are in first place in the team standings.

McDonogh leads the 28-team competition with 77 points, ahead of No. 4 Mount St. Joseph (63), No. 7 John Carroll (62.5) and Georgetown Prep (59). The Eagles are trying to win a third straight team title - one weekend after repeating as the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association champions.

"It gives us confidence that we can wrestle well," McDonogh coach Pete Welch said. "Our kids have been in tough matches all year long."

It's the second weekend in a row that McDonogh has started quickly. The Eagles got 13 wrestlers through the quarterfinals at the MIAA tournament en route to that victory.

The Eagles go to the National Prep tournament next weekend at Lehigh, so a win at this event would boost McDonogh's confidence even higher.

McDonogh has four wrestlers trying to repeat as champions. Nick Schenk (119 pounds), Josh Fitch (140), Curtis Holmes (145) and Shane Milam (152) helped the Eagles win the team title last year.

The Eagles are the only team that got all 14 wrestlers into the quarterfinals.