CALGARY – Over the course of her four years as a Dino, Gabriela Cross earned a host of awards that reflected not only her achievements on the wrestling mat, but the resilience, discipline, and heart behind them.

On Tuesday, she not only earned her fourth Academic All-Canadian status for the fourth consecutive year of her degree, but she was also named the Dinos' Top Female Academic All-Canadian at the annual Academic All-Canadian breakfast.

When Cross first stepped into a wrestling room, she was not looking for a new sport. She was trying to find a way to improve her tackling in rugby. She was a high school senior in Vancouver with dreams of playing rugby for Team Canada one day, and wrestling was purely functional. But that first practice revealed something she did not expect. She fell in love with the sport. The intensity. The discipline. The challenge. The individuality mixed with team support. Wrestling clicked for her in a way that she could not ignore.

That moment became the start of a journey that would bring her to the University of Calgary, transform her athletic identity, and ultimately place her on Team Canada for wrestling, all while completing a demanding nursing degree.

Her decision to move across provinces was not easy. She wanted to do all three, rugby, wrestling, and nursing, but home did not offer the combination she needed. Calgary did. So she packed her bags and bet on herself.

Cross' first year as a Dino was intense. She balanced three sports at the varsity level while still achieving a 4.0 GPA. It was a schedule no first-year student wanted, a schedule with absolutely zero free time.

"It was tough, but I somehow made it through," she said. But even in the chaos, she developed a work ethic that would make her stronger in the years to come.

Her path also had setbacks. At the end of Year 1, she did not make the wrestling lineup, leaving her at home during the Canada West Championships. It was discouraging, but it fueled her. She returned the next year with renewed momentum, claiming the Canada West title and advancing all the way to the U SPORTS final.

In 2023, she experienced both heartbreak and breakthrough. She lost in the U SPORTS gold-medal match, yet that same year she placed 5th at the World Championships in Amman, Jordan, proving she could compete with the best in the world.

The following season, she climbed even higher, capturing the first of two consecutive U SPORTS Championships as well as being named the 2025 U SPORTS Women's Outstanding Wrestler. And most recently, Cross earned silver at the 2025 Pan American Championships, marking her first international medal and a defining milestone in her career.

These accomplishments speak to more than just talent; they reflect her resilience. While pursuing her nursing degree, she juggled demanding practicums with elite-level training. While working in the hospital from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., she still made it to her early morning practices. Cross balanced school, clinical placements, workouts, injuries, and long days with remarkable discipline.

"Time management was something that I really had to learn," she said.

In one season, a collarbone and neck injury kept her out for two full weeks before Canada West. Even so, she competed and brought home yet another conference gold medal.

Part of Cross' growth came from overcoming internal battles. Starting wrestling at 18 often left her feeling behind, especially being surrounded by teammates who had been on the mat since early childhood. Some practices were frustrating, and self-doubt was familiar.

"I used to be very emotional in practice all the time," she said. "I did not think I could do it."

But through relentless hard work, consistency, and unwavering support from the people around her, she gradually built confidence in her abilities. Now, she proudly acknowledges how far she has come.

"I feel like I have finally caught up."

Her connection to the Dinos runs deep. After graduating, she continued to pour into the program, coaching both university and high school wrestlers and staying rooted in the team culture she grew up in. Her teammates have become her lasting community.

"My whole life is here," she said. "These wrestlers are my family."

When asked what advice she would give to young athletes, she emphasized perseverance over talent.

"Talent does not mean everything," Cross said. "If you are the hardest worker and keep your mind to it, even when things seem hopeless, you can catch up to anyone, or better yet, achieve something you once thought was impossible."

She also encourages youth to explore multiple sports to gain skills from each experience, just as she did with hockey, volleyball, basketball, field hockey, and gymnastics.

"Playing different sports gave me a foundation of athleticism and taught me how to adapt in different environments. It helped me gain confidence and be ready for whatever sport I committed to next."

Cross' journey shows that greatness is not reserved for the prodigies who start young. It belongs to those who commit, who get back up, and who believe in their potential even when no one else does. From a newcomer on the mat to a national champion, world top-five finisher, and Pan American silver medalist, she has carved her own path through sheer determination. And as she keeps pushing toward her biggest goal - the 2028 Olympic Games - her story reminds others that their dreams are never out of reach

-UC-