From the first day as an Eagle here at Centennial High School, to the last as a Senior, one thing that undoubtedly stays standing throughout it all is Centennial and Mount Hebron’s long-lived rivalry.  Starting as early as middle school, students are constantly reminded of their rival high schools.

This is most noticeable within club teams. Sports teams all over Howard County house players from both the Centennial and Hebron areas, establishing relationships between players from both districts lasting well into high school.   

Senior soccer captain Drew Wilschke mentioned how club teammates across both teams have always been a key factor in ramping up competitions.

“We all know each other through club sports and other things outside of school. It definitely still motivates us to play at our best, though,” Wilschke said. 

He further mentioned how the tradition of this rivalry has been alive more than anything else these days.

“It’s a great tradition … and contributes to a great environment at every rivalry game,” Wilschke said.

Junior soccer player Elizabeth Brown added to Wilschke, emphasizing the personal factor within the rivalry. 

“Having friends on the team who go to Hebron makes it so much more personal for me and makes me want to win that much more for our school,” Brown added.

Sophomore field hockey player Madeleine Stachera also highlighted how club teams ramp up the rivalry even more.

“It’s also the competitive nature of wanting to do better than your friends,” Stachera said.

She also explained how the tradition of Centennial and Hebron’s rivalry has been around for so long that both schools understand that there’s a lot at stake during rivalry games. 

“The rivalry is already set in stone, so it pushes me even more knowing that we have to show up and win,” Stachera concluded.

This rivalry has been a central part of both schools for longer than one probably knows, and beyond students, teachers and staff have also witnessed how the Centennial-Hebron rivalry has shaped our school culture.

According to James Zehe, who has been teaching at Centennial for 30 years, the origins of the rivalry aren’t entirely clear, but its presence has always been strong. 

“From the moment I was here, I understood that that was our biggest rival… it’s a fun rivalry because it always means a little more when you’re playing them,” he explained.

His experience in coaching soccer highlighted how connected the two schools are, with many athletes already knowing each other from club teams. This familiarity makes the competition more engaging, but also more personal.

Zehe also emphasized the positive role the rivalry can play in school culture.

 “It has the capacity to be something that can unify the school,” he said.

While competition can sometimes become intense, he ultimately sees it as a largely positive and natural part of the Centennial experience.

Similarly, Rebecca Clark, Centennial’s Athletics Director, reflected on the rivalry as something that extends beyond just sports. 

“The rivalry with Hebron has always seemed to be the biggest rivalry in the county,” Clark said. “Not just athletics… it’s always this big competition.” 

Like Zehe, she pointed to the shared connections between students as a key reason the rivalry remains strong.

Clark and Zehe alike recall an especially memorable moment 10 years ago at a basketball game. 

“The stands were full… we were turning people away at the door… it felt like that high school rivalry,” Clark described, demonstrating how the rivalry can bring the school community together in an energetic and spirited way.

At the same time, she emphasized that the rivalry is not rooted in negativity. 

“I think it’s more in good fun… I don’t think people walk around the halls thinking we hate [Hebron],” she stated.

Instead, it serves as something students look forward to: an event that builds excitement rather than division.

Centennial Principal Dr. Joelle Miller, who has worked between the schools, built on the positive and friendly nature of this rivalry. She noted how the Centennial- Hebron rivalry went deeper than just sports, going even into canned food drive competitions.

“The communities at both schools are incredibly supportive, it was always positive,” Miller said. 

Miller also emphasized how competitive this rivalry actually was.

“There used to be, when Ed Holshue was coaching, a trophy we would pass back and forth between Hebron and us,” Miller stated.

This trophy, the Ed Holshue Cup, has yet to be located today, but it’s a tradition that both schools are likely to, and surely would love, to bring back. 

This rivalry has played a large role in the lives of students and teachers alike. Whether friendly or competitive, and through club sports, coaching, and teaching, this rivalry is definitely one special and unique to Centennial and Mount Hebron, bringing together both communities.