by Lem Satterfield

Hereford's Josh Asper has spent his entire high school career knocking down one challenge after another.

As a 135-pounder who failed to win the Baltimore County title, Asper stunned fans at the University of Maryland's Cole Field House by toppling four wrestlers -- all of whom were favored to defeat him -- on the way to becoming the Bulls' first-ever freshman to win a state title.

The following year, Asper rose to 145 pounds, where he defeated a returning state runner-up, senior Matt Kahl of Harford Tech, in overtime to win his second consecutive crown.

Last year, as a 160-pound junior, Asper dominated his clash of returning state champs, 6-2, over Southern Garrett senior Justin Ratliff for his third straight state title.

Bound for the Unversity of Maryland on an athletic scholarship, Asper already entered this, his senior season, facing the challenge of becoming only Maryland's third four-time public school wrestling champion by joining Aberdeen's Matt Slutzky and Owings Mills' Steve Kessler.

His unbeaten streak had risen to 50 consecutive bouts, and his career record, to 114.

But to Asper, the challenge was not yet great enough.

Asper asked his coach, Ron Causey, to enter the Mount Mat Madness Invitational, a 29-team affair that is considered Maryland's most difficult wrestling tournament.

"I wanted to get into this tournament last year, but coach didn't think the team was ready for it," said Asper, who has 128 career victories against only seven losses. "But I knew we would be stronger this year, and that everyone could get even better if we came to the tournament and we got tough matches."

Causey granted Asper's request, and on Friday night, the senior took full advantage.

Asper, who went 39-0 with 24 pins last year, scored first period falls in 55 seconds, and, 1:47, respectively, over Boys' Latin's Dru Keyser and Archbishop Curley's Tim Wood to improve to 14-0 on the year.

Asper has won 64 consecutive bouts.

"This is the first time I get to participate in the Mount Mat Madness, and I want to win it," said Asper, a two-time Baltimore County titlist who improved his career record to 128-7, and whose last lost came by 8-7 loss in February 2006 to Hammond's three-time state champion Vince Taweel. "It's good to have a test in the middle of the season to let me know where I'm at."

In Saturday's quarterfinals, Asper meets Old Mill's Ryan Hertz , with the long range goals of reaching the title bout.

If Asper gets there, he is expected to face Brock Buddesheim of Sussex Central, a wrestler who was runner-up at last year's MMM and who placed fourth at this year's Beast of The East Tournament.

"There's a little bit of pressure to win it, I guess, because I'm the state champ, but it's not overwhelming or anything," said Asper. "To me, this is just like any other match or any other tournament. The only thing is, this one's a whole lot tougher. But that's the way I like it, in order to make me better for the end of the year."