Dec. 10 was the day Michael Queen, a varsity senior on the wrestling team, earned his 133rd win and was recognized for breaking the record for most wins. An in-season match against Laith Zaghari from River Hill High School made the difference for Queen and his high school wrestling career.
It was just another wrestling tournament, with no new faces and no new rules, but Michael Queen and his coach both knew what was at stake here. “My coach and I had been tracking my wins, and going into this tournament, I knew I needed 5 more wins to break it,” Queen said.
Pressure is a very interesting concept because some athletes can feel an immense amount of pressure in these situations. Pressure can be used as fuel to drive an athlete to win, but it can also pull them in the wrong direction mentally, which costs them a highlight.
When describing Michael Queen as an athlete, people see a calm, cool, and collected personality on the mat. “I didn’t feel much pressure because I was focused on the next match instead of breaking the record,” Queen said.
Not only does it take hours of training to be physically competent to perform at the highest level, but it also takes a lot of mental control. Athletes have to be able to fight their own demons that live in their heads and continuously say doubtful things. Michael Queen has proven that he is a next-level athlete. He stays away from negative thoughts in the moments that matter the most.
It was not an easy win for Queen; he found himself facing adversity during the very match that he made history. The final decision was 4-3, but that score does not tell the full story. Queen got taken down for the first time that season, making it his closest match. “I wasn’t worried, although I knew I had to change something going into the third period when I was down. I was able to get a reversal and win the match,” Queen said.
Queen has made a big impact while being a part of the wrestling team. And as he reminisces on his last four years being on the varsity wrestling squad, he looks back on the goals he set for himself and has something to be proud of. Queen appreciated the support he got from his teammates and coaches throughout his career. The balance of the supportive nature and friendly competition allowed Queen to make the most out of this experience.
That is not the only thing Queen will miss about the team. He will miss the overall friendships that he gained by being a part of this squad. “One of my favorite memories with this team is going to Texas Roadhouse after tournaments and hanging out with everyone,” Queen said.
Queen continues to make history as he just recently celebrated 150 wins throughout his four-year career. There is no doubt that Michael Queen will remain a name that is heard in the hallways of Severna Park High School.
