Hall of Fame
Marilyn Cross has been a dedicated official in gymnastics, field hockey, and girls lacrosse at numerous levels of competition since 1960.
She began as a high school field hockey official in 1960 and over her years in that capacity, Ms. Cross was rated a top official in the section and was appointed Section XI field hockey interpreter. She also was known for both roles as a girls lacrosse official when she began with the sport in 1988.
However, Ms. Cross has been most known as an icon in the gymnastics world beginning in her rookie year of 1963. She was immediately recognized as a first class, top-rated judge in the sport, especially over the last 27 years when she has been selected as the Head Judge in the Section XI gymnastics championships each year. Furthermore, she garnered New York State Outstanding Judge of the Year award in 1977, the Elite Coaches National Association Judge of the Year award USA in 1993 and 2001, and was inducted into both the Suffolk Hall of Fame (1992) and the USGF Regional Hall of Fame (1993). Ms. Cross, who judged in the World Gymnastics Championships and the Good Will Games numerous times, had the distinct honor of being a part of the 1984, 1992, and 1996 Olympics.
A Babylon High School graduate in 1960, Ms. Cross dabbled with coaching in the 1960s and ‘70s in the sports of gymnastics, field hockey, and tennis at North Bablyon. She continued with her education at Adelphi University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in physical education and science in 1964, and then pursued her Master’s degree in guidance at Hofstra University, and sports medicine at New York University and Stony Brook.