Ray Oliver Tournament
December 1, 2 2023 • McDonogh School • 1:00pm
EVENT INFORMATION:
This year we will host a separate JV division tournament in conjunction with the Varsity competition. There will be individual place awards in the JV tournament, but no team scoring. The Varsity Tournament will have both team scoring and individual awards. You can enter one scoring and one non-scoring wrestler per weight class in the Varsity tournament. No limit on number of JV wrestlers per weight class (bring them all!
The team entry fee will be as follows: (each program can enter wrestlers into either tournament, Varsity or JV)
6 or less wrestlers - $300
7-20 wrestlers - $450
21+ wrestlers - $600
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Enter line ups on Track Wrestling
Thursday, November 30, 2023
7:00 p.m. Seeding meeting with tournament committee. Wrestlers will be seeded according to tournament criteria. All head coaches invited to attend. With the JV tournament we will separate to the best of our ability kids from the same school but will not be seeding.
Friday, December 1, 2023
1:30 p.m. Weigh-In Varsity only, JV will conduct honor weigh in at own school
3:00 p.m. Coaches meeting
3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Pre quarters (JV round followed by Varsity round on 8 mats)
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Quarterfinals and Consolations (JV followed by Varsity on 8 mats)
Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023
8:00 a.m. Weigh-In Varsity, JV will conduct honor weigh in at own school or hotel
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. JV Semi-finals & Consi-quarters (4 mats)
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Varsity Semi-finals & Consi-quarters (4 mats)
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Varsity and JV Consolation Semi-Finals (4 mats)
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. JV Finals 1 st , 3 rd and 5 th place matches (3 mats)
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Varsity Finals 1 st , 3rd and 5 th place Matches (3 mats)
About ray oliver
McDonogh's annual Christmas Tournament was renamed in 1992 to honor Raymond B.
Oliver. Ray Oliver began wrestling as a 7th grader at McDonogh School in 1934. Since
then, his journey has taken him to the United States Naval Academy and back to
McDonogh School where he coached from 1947 to 1972 and taught mathematics until
1992.
Oliver was an EIWA finalist in 1944 for the Midshipmen and cites his coach at Annapolis, Ray Swartz, as a great influence in his decision to coach and teach. Oliver modestly calls himself, "just another coach with a winning record", how good that record was is lost to posterity after a fire swept through the
McDonogh School Field House.
He was honored by McDonogh naming its "Character in Wrestling" Award after him. In 1992 Oliver was presented with the Johnny Eareckson Memorial Wrestling Award,
presented to that individual who has demonstrated those qualities of inspiration and distinguished service to the Maryland Wrestling Committee, as exemplified by Johnny
Eareckson.
A charter member of the Maryland Wrestling Officials Association, Oliver officiated from
1954 to 1981, serving as MWOA president six times. He also officiated in the EIWA for
sixteen years, 1961 to 1976.
Raymond B. Oliver is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and received the
Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award in recognition of years of dedication to the
development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of
wrestling.
