2023 wrestling season starts this weekend with the 50th Ray Oliver Tournament

The 50th annual Ray Oliver Wrestling Tournament will take place Friday and Saturday (December 1st and 2nd) at McDonogh School. The event, which serves as the unofficial kickoff of the wrestling season, will feature 26 schools, including seven from the MIAA.

In addition to host McDonogh, the field will feature Archbishop Spalding, Calvert Hall, Gilman, Loyola Blakefield, Mount Carmel and Severn. The field will also include several squads from the WCAC, including DeMatha, Gonzaga, Good Counsel, Paul VI, St. John’s (DC) and St. Mary’s-Ryken.

The remaining teams are from Maryland, Delaware and Virgina.

The tournament, originally known as the McDonogh Christmas Tournament, was renamed in honor Ray Oliver in 1992. Oliver began wrestling as a seventh grader at McDonogh in 1934 and eventually became a standout wrestler at the Naval Academy. In 1947 he returned to McDonogh as head wrestling coach and as a math teacher. He coached the Eagles through 1972 and remained on the school’s faculty until 1992.

Oliver was also a charter member of the Maryland Wrestling officials Association and received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

2023 Ray Oliver Tournament Estimated Schedule

Friday, December 1, 2023

3:30 - 8:30 p.m.               Pre quarters (JV round followed by Varsity round on 8 mats)

Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.     Quarterfinals and Consolations (JV followed by Varsity on 8 mats)

12:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.      Consolation Round 5 (Varsity – 4 mats / JV – 4 mats)

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.        Varsity Semis / consi quarters (4 mats) - JV Semis / consi quarters (4 mats)

3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.        Varsity Consi Semis (4 mats) - JV Consi Semis (4 mats)

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.        Varsity Placement (4 mats) - JV Placement (4 mats)