Southern Maryland Wrestling Club
Updated - Spring 1999
Maryland's Regional Wrestling - Who and How
Bruce Gabrielson
Southern Maryland Wrestling Club
Updated - Spring 1999
Wrestling in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and in Maryland, has shown a tremendous increase in popularity, especially among pre-high school age boys during the past few years. Wrestling offers boys of every size and age both individual and team oriented sports at whatever level there ability can support. Teams, clubs, and leagues have sprung up in virtually every county, some existing during both the traditional folkstyle (scholastic) winter season, and during the spring freestyle season. With an extensive array of local tournaments and league matches, and with the programs structured for wrestlers of any size and ability, boys on these teams find plenty of opportunity for competition regardless of their background.
Winter folkstyle wrestling has many forms. The numerous junior and open clubs in Maryland generally fall into one of three categories. For beginning wrestlers or those with only a few years experience, Southern Maryland Junior Wrestling League serves primarily Washington D.C., and Prince Georges, Montgomery, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties. There are many large teams and numerous wrestlers involved in the league. A similar program, the Northern Virginia Wrestling Federation, exists on the Virginia side of D.C. and the Arrundel County B League covers beginning wrestlers close to Ann Arrundel County.
For the more advanced wrestlers who prefer the traditional dual meet format, and limited tournament competitions, there is the Capital Area Wrestling League (CAWL) and the Arrundel County A League. Like the Baltimore County and Harford County leagues, they are considered "Beltway" level leagues. These leagues usually have around ten teams each winter season, with considerable advanced competitions among their athletes. The dual meet season runs during January and February, with a state meet for wrestlers who place in the beltway level leagues held each March. All winter folkstyle leagues are concerned primarily with wrestlers 15 years of age and younger.
For top national contenders of any age, including Olympic hopefuls, the are a few clubs in the region geared primarily towards major age-weight and open tournament competitions. Rather then be tied to league schedules, fun type scrimmages are scheduled with similar clubs, or clubs from one of the more traditional league teams, when tournament scheduling permits. Most weekends, wrestlers in these clubs are involved in tournament competitions somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region. Also, since these clubs do not participate in leagues, many of their members are also active in the various league teams.
Most open clubs practice year around, are well supported by high level coaches and top junior, high school and college athletes, and usually don't worry about full rosters. Tournament type clubs are not geared towards, nor do they normally allow beginner level wrestlers. Most advanced wrestlers in Maryland and Virginia belong to one of the open clubs.
International style wrestling is also very popular in this region. In Maryland, the Maryland State Wrestling Association (MSWA) serves as this state's USA Wrestling representative. USA Wrestling is the national governing body for the sport, and is the organization which selects wrestlers for Olympic competition. The MSWA sometimes cooperates with the Potomac Valley and Maryland associations of the Amateur Athletic Union, and with various fall folkstyle leagues in the state to reduce the possibility of schedule conflicts between events.
USAW offers international style (FS & GR) programs for both kids and older competitors. National competitions are offered for state USAW teams only in both the cadet (15 &16 yrs) and the junior (17 & 18 yrs) age groups. Regional open competitions are offered for all age groups with Maryland competing in the Northeast Region. USAW insurance cards are $20 (club sanctions are $50) and are required to compete at USAW events. MSWA generally holds five events each year. MSWA concentration is primarily in the northern part of Maryland.
Another national sanctioning body is the Amateur Athletic Union. Two associations are located in Maryland, the Potomac Valley AAU, centered in D.C., Northern Virginia, and parts of Southern Maryland, and Maryland AAU, covering all the rest of Maryland. Like MSWA, Maryland and PV AAU hold local and regional competitions in freestyle and Greco-Roman, but in addition also hold SOMBO competitions. The AAU holds an open national championship for all age groups, plus has wrestling for association high school age state teams as part of the National Junior Olympics. AAU insurance cards are $10 (club sanctions are $25) and are required for AAU events. There are generally six Maryland events, with Mid-Atlantic AAU holding an additional ten events. AAU concentration is primarily in the southern part of Maryland and in Washington DC.
Fout major regional all-star events are held each year, two for folkstyle (one for HS seniors and one for pre-high school) wrestlers, the Mason-Dixon Quad and the MD/VA Senior Challenge. For freestlyr, there one for high school and under freestyle wrestlers, the Potomac Valley Challenge Cup, and one for HS (USAW Juniors), the East Coast Duels. Participants for these teams must be selected based on record and weight. There are also some outside the area duel type events which Maryland and Virginia teams often attend, the Peddy junior and cadet duels, the National Duels, and the National Junior Olympic Games.
There is another senior only event in Maryland each year, the Senior All-Star Classic. This event, held shortly after the MD public school state championships, pits the top seniors at each weight from 1A/2A, 3A/4A, and private schools against each other in duel match format.
The Mason-Dixon Quad is held in january or February, and features one USAW wrestler at each junior age weight from each of four states. The quad has been held for about five years. Selection for the team is the responsibility of MSWA's kids chairman. Generally, kids in 7th and 8th grades are considered, but often younger wrestlers are selected, especially for the lower weight classes. An application is normally submitted to the state chairman, with pre-season tournament records the most significant criteria for selection.
The MD/VA Senior Challenge is a big media event featuring the best senior at each weight class in Maryland against the best senior in Virginia. The match is held in the Washington Metro Region, is televised live, is widely covered by local newspapers, and is often used by the Washington Post as the final selection criteria for the All-Met Wrestler-of-the-Year. This is the areas only televised event, is usually larger than the Maryland's annual Senior All-Star Classic, and is widely recognized for the number of nationally ranked wrestlers involved. Criteria for making the Maryland is often, although not always, based on winning at the Classic.
The Potomac Valley Challenge Cup is the oldest of the all-star regional events. State teams of two freestyle wrestlers at each weight from 55 lbs to heavyweight compete in both team and individual competition pools. Generally three to five states provide teams, with wrestlers representing either USAW or AAU clubs in the Mid-Atlantic regions. This tournament has featured many of the best wrestlers around our area over the years, and is watched closely by several college and prep school coaches. Selection for the team is the responsibility of the designated state representative. Open wrestle-offs and spring tournament records are normally used for selection criteria.
The East Coast Junior Duels is a late spring freestyle event drawing various USAW state teams. Selection is normally based on participation and accomplishments in USAW spring events.
Maryland's Most Important Wrestling Events
This section describes the Middle Atlantic Regions's and Maryland's most important local wrestling activities, and also the national events where Maryland wrestlers have historically faced the best in the US. Mostly junior age events are covered during folkstyle season since there is a major difference between public and private school events in Maryland during this time period.
Folkstyle Wrestling
Mid-Atlantic MAWA Fall Classic - This is the first major open tournament of the season and is held in September. Most of the top junior age wrestlers, plus a large number to top high school and college contenders enter this event.
Dundalk Optimist (MD) - This Thanksgiving weekend event regularly draws the top juniors in the Mid-Atlantic region plus many of Maryland's top public high school wrestlers. Unfortunately, it conflicts with the Maryland Catholic Tournament which draws most of the top private high school wrestlers in this region.
Boiling Springs (PA) - This tournament offers a very nice outstanding wrestler award. It is a large event and draws most of the top junior age wrestlers in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is held in December or January.
Williamsport Christmas Tournament (MD) - Many of the top Maryland, Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Southern Pennsylvania junior age wrestlers enter this event. It is held during or close to Christmas break and includes team scoring.
Tulsa Nationals (OK) - This event is very old and bills itself as the largest tournament in the US. Open only to wrestlers 16 years and under, competitors are drawn from throughout the US. This is an AAU tournament. Very nice awards are given.
Mason/Dixon Quad (MD) - For USAW wrestlers only, this closed all- star event for junior age wrestlers features many top competitors from four states. Only one wrestler can compete from each state at each weight class. The event is held in January.
Oxford University (PA) - A team and open event, this February tournament draws many of the best pre-high school wrestlers and junior league teams in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Maryland State Beltway League Championships (MD) - Used as the final championship event for several (but not all) junior leagues located in Northern Virginia and Maryland, this weight only February event is considered one of the best in this region.
Middle Atlantic HS Classic (Beast of the East - DE) - A high school team invitational event, this tournament regularly draws about 30 of the top high school teams in the Mid-Atlantic region, including many nationally ranked teams and wrestlers. It is considered among the top high school tournaments in the nation.
National Prep School Championships (PA) - This February event regularly draws about 50 of the top private high school teams from across the US each year. It is often considered the best high school age championship event. The tournament has been held annually since about 1906.
Maryland State Age-Weight Championship (MD) - This is the only open end-of-season March event for Maryland junior age wrestlers, and is used to determine the MSWA State Folkstyle Club Champion. It is also the formal qualifier for the Ohio Tournament of Champions, and the MAWA Eastern Nationals for advancement to regionals, and from there to the MAWA Eastern National Championships.
MAWA Folkstyle Regionals and MAWA Eastern National Championships - These two April tournaments are considered to be the toughest folkstyle events for junior age wrestlers and for high school age wrestlers in the Mid-Atlantic region.
AAU World Folkstyle Championships - Held somewhere in the US each year in April, this is the top folkstyle event of the season for all age groups.
Ohio Tournament of Champions (OH) - One of the largest April folkstyle events, this AAU tournament draws wrestlers from 15 or more states each year. Classes of 80 or more are to be expected. The first Maryland wrestler to win this event was Jason Gabrielson.
Freestyle/Greco-Roman/SOMBO Wrestling (International Styles)
US World Team Trials (Cadets/Juniors/Espoirs) - These USAW freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments held in March are used to select the US teams for international competitions. These are open events, so normally draw smaller entries than other major tournaments, but the quality of wrestling is absolutely top notch.
Middle Atlantic Wrestling Association (MAWA) Championships - This May AAU competition is the toughest freestyle event in the Mid- Atlantic region, usually drawing more wrestlers than the USAW Eastern Regionals. This is the MAWA qualifier for the AAU Grand Nationals.
Kids and Cadets North East Regionals - A USAW Greco-Roman and freestyle event, this tournament draws many of the best young age level wrestlers in the North Eastern US.
Potomac Valley All-Star Challenge Cup - This closed all-star freestyle event for junior and high school age wrestlers features many top competitors from four or five states. Only two wrestler can compete from each state at each weight class starting at 55 lbs. Open wrestle-offs and open tournament competitions are used to select state team members. This is the oldest all-star event in this area, and is held in May or June. It is a prestigious event sometimes used for recruiting by college and private high school coaches. In addition, since it is open to both USAW and AAU wrestlers, many top wrestlers often compete who would otherwise never meet in freestyle competition.
East Coast Club Championships (MD) - This is considered one of the toughest USAW open freestyle events in Maryland. Held in May or June, it draws most of the best open clubs for the team competitions.
USAW Cadet National & Junior Nationals - The largest and usually toughest national age tournaments in the US. Held in June or July. This is a closed event open to state entered teams only. In Maryland, wrestlers qualify for the team based on a point system earned from USAW matches and tournaments won during the freestyle season. In addition, wrestlers need to solicit approximately $700 in sponsor money to pay their team expenses. As such, some very good wrestlers do not attend the competitions.
United States Championships - Used to select US team qualifiers for Olympic and open world championship events, the tournament is open to any USAW wrestler 17 years and older. This is the toughest of all US tournaments, so draws smaller numbers but only the very best wrestlers.
AAU Grand Nationals - This July all-age FS/GR/SO tournament features a number of outstanding wrestlers who don't compete in other USAW events as well as many of the same top USAW competitors. This is an open national event with entry based on pre-qualification at state and regional AAU events. In Maryland, wrestlers can qualify at either the Potomac Valley AAU Association Championships or at the Maryland AAU Association Championships.
AAU Junior Olympics - Configured similar to the multi-sport Olympics, wrestlers must be selected to their local association team, usually by winning the AAU association championships. Only one high school age wrestler is allowed per weight. However, in Maryland, wrestlers may compete for the Potomac Valley Association Team or the Maryland AAU Association Team. The Junior Olympics are held every year in August.