On the surface, the ultimate goal for an area wrestler would be to capture a public or private school state wrestling championship. As challenging as those tournaments are, though, many local wrestlers and coaches will tell you that they pale in comparison to Mount Mat Madness.
Scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Goucher College, the fourth edition of the tournament, which is organized by Mount St. Joseph, brings together 27 of the best teams from Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Along with the host Gaels, who finished second in last year?s tournament, this year?s event features defending Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association champion McDonogh, Howard County champion Hammond, Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Association champion Harford Tech and Anne Arundel County power Old Mill.
“It?s such an honor just to compete in this tournament,” said Old Mill coach Jim Grim, whose team finished fourth in this tournament two years ago. “To us, winning this tournament is a bigger accomplishment than winning states. At the same time, this tournament makes us a better team and helps us learn about the importance of wrestling back through the losers? bracket to help the team improve its overall score.”
Archbishop Curley coach Gregg Kessler said Mount Mat Madness is something his team has looked forward to all year and that the competition is second to none. Curley is among the teams looking to challenge McDonogh for the top spot in the MIAA.
“This is the premier wrestling tournament in Maryland,” Kessler said. “It?s midway through the season and a great test to see where we are against the best wrestlers from several states. We have couple of individuals who [have] winning the tournament in their sights. They know there are a number of wrestlers in their path to the title, and they have been planning for those guys who they view as a threat to that goal.”
