Crosley silences his critics with a superb season
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers QUICK LEARNER- RHS senior grappler Shane Crosley has a record of 27-5 in his first season with the Highlander varsity team. After trying his hand at football early in his high school career, Crosley made the switch to wrestling. It wasn't an easy transition, but he's certainly got the hang of it now.

Two years ago, if Royal High senior Shane Crosley had told anyone that he would be one of the best varsity wrestlers on the Highlanders, he probably would have heard a few laughs.

Crosley had never wrestled before, and at the time he was third string- in football.

Now, nobody is laughing at Crosley, they're losing to him.

He has picked up the sport very quickly, and in his first year on the varsity squad for RHS he has compiled a record of 27-5 with 19 pins.

"Very rarely do I see a kid become as good as he has been at wrestling and as fast as he has become good," Royal head coach Rich Carrillo said. "Maybe one or two other kids, but that's it.

"It proves that you can do anything with a lot of good, hard work and if you are willing to listen and learn. This kid was just looking for a sport to play, let alone become good at it."

Although Crosley first competed in wrestling as a sophomore, it was not a smooth start. He only won one match while competing on the junior varsity team.

Things started to come together for Crosley as a junior, when he went 11-1 on JV.

He made the varsity squad this season and has been one of the main factors in helping the Highlanders lead the Marmonte League standings as well as rank fourth in the CIFSouthern Section Division II coaches poll.

Crosley said that his RHS coaches and teammates have been the main reason why he has succeeded so fast.

"The coaches here have been very encouraging to me and tell me that there's nothing I can't do," Crosley said. "Coach Carrillo expects a lot of me and Kevin (Dunn) this season. Coach has sat down with me and told me how to perfect my moves. I don't have a library of moves, but he has helped me make the ones I do have unbeatable."

Carrillo takes honor in knowing that he's one of the main reasons for Crosley's fast growth.

"I take tremendous pride in knowing I had something to do with Shane's ability," Carrillo said. "But I think a lot of it is just his mental attitude he brings.

"We have a system at Royal in which we usually don't expect wrestlers to make much of a difference until their third year. The first year is to learn the sport; the second year is to start experiencing it, and the third year is what we call the 'productive year,' where you start to make a difference. If we had Shane his freshmen year, there's no telling just how good he could have been at this point."

Crosley said Dunn, who's one of the top wrestlers in the area, has been of great assistance as well.

"Just by watching him everyday, I know I can get better because he's so good," Crosley said. "Now I know when I go into matches that I am going to win. He has helped instill a lot of confidence and inspiration in me."

That confidence has especially grown when it comes to Crosley talking about Dan Stoner, one of his main rivals from Simi Valley High.

"I do take every match one at a time, but (Stoner) is one that does stay in the back of my mind," Crosley said. "Not only is he good, but with him also being from Simi makes him a big rival. I know I am going to win, but I also know it's going to be very tough."

Crosley said he considers himself more of a conditioned wrestler than a technical or aggressive grappler.

"Our everyday practices are tougher than Hell Week was in football," Crosley said. "I think that helps me because I'm in such good shape that I always last to the third period. If you haven't beaten me by the third period you're in trouble, because our practices help to put me in great shape."

Crosley also said the practices have prepared him for a possible career in the Marines, although he is undecided on whether he will join. Before he makes that decision, though, he said there's nothing he loves more than winning a match for Royal.

"When you beat someone and you know you worked hard for it, it just feels great," Crosley said. "Something about when the ref raises your hand up in the air after a win . . . there's nothing better."