Amongst the wrestling on the four mats spread across the Aberdeen High School gym floor, there was nothing special that Bel Air’s Steven Cross did to bring attention to him. To everyone else in the stands, it was just another tech fall by the exciting Bobcat wrestler.
But to the Bel Air fans and teammates surrounding the mat, it was much more, and their signs reading “100” told the story.
“It feels awesome. Once you get that 100th win, you love it,” Cross said, who reached his milestone in the first day of the Aberdeen Duals. “It is what I have been working for.”
Cross is just the fourth Bel Air wrestler to reach the milestone, joining former teammate Sean Ellenby, coach Chris Birth and brother, Matt, in the elusive 100-win club.
Coming up in a wrestling family, and with his brother preceding hi with a state title, there has always been a level of expectance on Cross’ wrestling abilities, but he has known that and lived up to them.
The two-time UCBAC champion and three-time finalist qualified for the state tournament in 2010, and hopes to match his brother’s finish as a state champ in 2011.
“It was awesome when Matt won states,” Cross said. “It would mean everything if I were able to do that, too.
“You are expected to do everything. You have to give it everything you can and go out and prove you deserve it. I am looking for the top and I wan to be on top of the state podium.”
But the state championship isn’t the only thing that Cross wants to reach of his older brother; he wants the all-time wins title Matt set at 144.
This year’s entry into the Mount Mat Madness tournaments could help Cross make it to 145 wins, with the sheer size of the tournament promoting more matches in the wrestler’s season.
“I want to see what I have compared to those guys,” Cross said, speaking to the high level of talent found at MMM. “As long as I can get the best matches I can, I’m going to keep doing it.
Cross also hopes to add another UCBAC team title to his resume, helping the Bobcats win the last three titles by being in the finals every year.
“We have a young lineup, so we have to push and not give up six anywhere,” Cross said. “The young guys will get better with the more they are on the mat.”
Not yet committing to a college, both York College and Messiah College are among Cross’ top picks, Messiah being the school of his older brother, where Matt has started the 2010-2011 season with a 15-1 college record.
