Franklin "Buddy" Hepfer never worried about victories. 'You don't have to worry about

winning if you prepare a kid to believe in himself and believe in the team," Hepfer said. "I

know wrestling is an individual sport, but we always emphasized team. I always told my kids if

you go out on the mat and give it your best, no matter if you win or get stuck, then you are a

winner.

That's exactly why Hepfer's wrestling teams at Arundel High were -winners. During his 30

years as head coach at Arundel, Hepfer compiled a brilliant 277-90-5 record that was

punctuated by two state team championships and five regional team crowns. A three-sport star

at Curwensville Joint High School in Curwensville, Pa., Hepfer was the first wrestler from his

school to place in the Pennsylvania state tournament. He earned a wrestling scholarship to the University of Maryland before graduating and earning a teaching position at Arundel High School.

"'No other high school sport builds character like wrestling," Hepfer said. The first coach in

Anne Arundel County history to reach 250 wins, Hepfer led the Wildcats to the 57 tournament titles.

He coached 63 individual county champions, 40 regional champs, 11 state champs, and

watched several of his wrestlers continue their careers in college. Coach Hepfer was named

Coach of the Year by the (Baltimore) Sun four times and being inducted into the

Maryland Public Schools Athletic Association State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1984,

Hepfer became the first coach to be honored by the Maryland Wrestling Officials

Association for Outstanding Contributions To the port of Wrestling and for Outstanding

Sportsmanship Shown in the same year.

Hepfer's impact in Anne Arundel County also includes beginning little league programs and

starting three in-county high school tournaments. His influence has also reached the state

wrestling tournament and the current point system for seeding wrestlers at county and regional

competitions. Away from the mat, Hepfer enjoys spending time with his wife Irene, his five

children, as well as fishing and hunting.