Heading into his first-round match in the 2011 Mount Mat Madness, Mount. St. Joe’s Brady Massaro knew a perfect run through the tournament would earn him his 100th win.  And he sure was in a hurry to get there.

Massaro destroyed his 145-pound competition, pinning his way to the finals and scoring a 3-1 decision over Kevin Johnson of Forest Park for his MMM title.

“Kevin Johnson is a tough wrester and we wrestled before at the Beast of the East,” Massaro said.  “We knew what each other was going to do, and last time was high scoring, but this time we knew each other’s moves.

“One-one, we both got out from bottom, and I was just able to get a takedown at the end there.  I’m always looking for a takedown, whether there are 2 minutes left or one second left, so I was just going for the takedown like I always do.”

Massaro’s 145-pound MMM crown came with a bit of a boost, sealing his title with a last second takedown for his 100th career win.

“It feels good to get me 100th win,” he said.  “A lot of people reach that mark now, but I was fortunate to get it in the finals of a very tough tournament.”

One move that helped Massaro reach his career milestone was a move he made from Severna Park to Mount Saint Joe following a fourth place finish in the 2010 MPSSAA State Tournament.

“I wanted to be a better wrestler, and Mount St. Joe has and outstanding program, the best coaches in the state, the best partners in the state, and I have definitely improved a whole lot since I transferred,” Massaro said.  “I’m not putting down Severna Park, I miss it there, but this has been a good move for me.”

Working everyday with practice partner Tyler Rill, Massaro says his skills are continuously improving, enough to be looking forward to one of his toughest opponents in the MIAA, Archbishop Spalding’s Charlie Lynch.

“I want to finish on top; it’s not going to be like last year,” Massaro explained.  “I have Charlie Lynch in my weight class this year, who is an outstanding wrestler, and I am going to have to step up my game if I want to beat him.  I have to pick it up inside of practice, pick it up outside of practice, but I think I can beat him.”

But that battle will have to wait, as Massaro will have to take on opponents from Curley, Gilman, McDonogh, Loyola and John Carroll before meeting with Lynch, Feb. 11.