1 leg wretler wins ncaa title video included

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdwACYJWJzM

The most memorable performance in March may belong to a basketball player such as BYU's Jimmer Fredette, but the most important performance this month goes to Arizona State's Anthony Robles.


The Sun Devils wrestler was born without a right leg, and yet he still won the 125-lb. class Saturday at the Division I NCAA championships in Philadelphia. After clinching the title against Iowa junior Matt McDonough, Robles received a standing ovation and then stood on the winner's podium with his crutches, which sat and waited for him by the mat while he wrestled.

He finished 36-0 as a senior.

Robles' story is even more remarkable considering how difficult it was for him to even get a scholarship. He didn't start wrestling until age 14, and his weight class, 125-lbs., is the lightest in the NCAA. Because of his missing leg, he had to compete at weights even lower than that, and ASU offered a partial scholarship to the Mesa native only after he won a national title as a senior.

Now Robles is going out on top of the wrestling world, and he plans to hang up his singlet and become a motivational speaker.

To be successful at that, he doesn't have to say a word.

It was absolutely facinating to watch Robles wrestle. Now I'm curious about something. How would you wrestle him to beat him? I have only been involved in wrestling for the last year or so with my 6 year old novice son so I don't have any personal expereince on the mat. So, to all of you veterans, what would you do? Does it make sense to stay on your feet just out of range of his double leg so you could counter his shot with something? It seems like you'd be playing right into his hands if you went down to your knees with him right away.

C. Andrews

distance and motion... create that angle and avoid tying up with him.

his semi finals match was close. his opponent joined him on his knees, it slowed him down quite a bit. the biggest thing is to circle towards his leg, many guys go to the other side, that's a mistake and he makes pay dearly.

I think Robles has the biggest advantage EVER created by a disability. To me it isn't even close to fair. You are making 125lb wrestlers compete against a 160lb man! How would Anthony do against Jordan Burrows or Bubba Jenkins? Wrestlers are forced to totally change their style for ONE match against this guy. Wrestling on one or two knees will oftern get you a warning for stalling in a normal match. If you have a low single, blast double, high c, duck, ankle pick, cross body, far ankle/tight waist etc. you have to totally come up with something new! How do you prepare? Officials won't call stalling on him. Officials change the way they call control on him. I can only imagine the hand strength the guy must posess from doing everything with his hands.

Hats off to him for not letting his disablity hold him back but I am of the opinion that in wrestling his physical inconvenience gives him a totally unfair advantage. I am glad that his run is over.

The average leg weighs about 9-10% of the total body weight. So lets do some math.

125 lbs x .10 = 12.5 lbs

However, Anthony probably walks around at about 135 lbs so lets do some more math.

135 X .10 = 13.5 lbs

So if Anthony had 2 legs he would probably weigh about 148.5 so lets round up to 150 lbs for good measure. From there, he would probably lose about 8% of that weight to compete.

150 X .92 = 138 lbs (Anthony's weight with 2 legs and an 8% weight cut).

So Anthony would be a 141 pounder in college and not a 157 or 165.

Now we all know that there are ways around the system in college sports so there is a possibility of he being a 133 pounder.

Thats a little far away from being a 57/65's.

Will,

HE HAS ONE LEG!!!!!! Come on now. He is a national champion because he trained the right way, and was extremely mentally tough. He did not win because he has one leg, or has extrordinary upper body strength. He turned a weakness into a strength, which is what all great wrestlers do.

If he has the biggest advantage EVER, don't you think he would be an undefeated 4 timer?

i see that ryne is still walking around. he hasn't let you talk him into the amputation yet? doesn't he know what an advantage he will have? maybe it's too late for him, start working on reese and sammy. i agree with you 100%, what an advantage. if i only knew back then i would have chopped a leg off along time ago. it's not like i ever won any races anyway. not much of a dancer either.

Richard is laughing his arse off! Thank you for the humor!

I think the main advantage Robles has is that he mentally stronger than most of his opponents. I don't think that you can mentally break this guy, and that is huge in wrestling. As far as him stalling i don't think you can call him a staller as he won the national title scoring 7 points in a 7-1 victory.

When you score all 7 points in the 1st period (2:45 to be exact) then proceed to not score again, it looks like stalling... if he could score "at will" that easily, what stopped him from doing so in the last couple periods?

Its called smart wrestling, why would you put your self in danger to get titled or even pinned.i think he wrestled a smart match

I don't disagree about it being a smart match, but if he's not making an attempt to score and just being defensive, by the book it's stalling.

maybe just maybe the other wrestler adjusted. i watched the match, that is exactly what i saw. we used to wrestle early jones. remember him multiple time ks state champ, only 2x national ever for labette. after we watched him beat people over and over, we adapted a style for earl. we still never had anyone win, but we kept the matches closer, than most. even had a few take downs on him. the iowa kid tried to spin to the missing leg, nothing to hook. sorry, but that is no advantage, it's poor planning by coach brands. jones and robles are true inspirations, and have already overcome more adversity than many of us will ever face. even cokeley can't take that away. lol.

Nice math Coach Church. GREAT humor HEADUP.

Will, come on. Give Robles his credit. A national title while entering and exciting on crutches due to his disability? I know I don't know as much as wrestling as you do - but it seems to me that other wrestlers could figure out a way to beat Robles. Especially from the neutral position. Create angles. Don't tie up. Images of Jon Smith shooting a single leg and taking Robles down all match long come to mind. . . Not that it ever happened. But I can sure envision it.

I was impressed and inspired. I am happy for him. Great story.

Dean

PS: Agreed Mr. Geyer, especially with your last sentence. On the night of the finals, Burroughs was so good he could have played the two for one game and teched our own Caldwell. But, he was smart. Got his big lead, knew he had his title wrapped up and roasted it on in. Smart, not stalling.

I agree Robles is a HUGE 125 pounder and tend to think he looks like a 160. When he had McDonough's wrists tied from the front shows just how different the sizes of the two were. Made Matt's arms look tiny.

It does create some serious challenges for Robles' opponent, to call it an advantage, I'm not so sure. It didn't seem to be that big of an advantage in last years NCAA's. To win the title with one leg or two, you have to be the BAMF, I tend to think he was this year both mentally and physicall...even though I was rooting for Iowa!

This guy has overcame some serious adversity, I see his motivational/inspirational speaking career telling his story really taking off

While I was surprised that Robles was the one-seed, then won it, I was more surprised that David Taylor lost to Bubba Jenkins by Fall. Wow!

"To win the title with one leg or two, you have to me a
a BAMF. . ."

Agreed. Well said Joe. Thanks.

Regarding Taylor, it just goes to show you how impressive his coach's accomplishment was. Additionally, Bubba is no slouch. He has had a impressive career long term. Taylor made a good run but maybe he had the 'deer in the headlights' when he got cranked up in that cradle and stuck. I appreciated how he accepted it though. Didn't throw a fit or be a drama queen. Good for Taylor. Maybe he was in too much shock to do either.

Dake and Burroughs impressed me the most this year.

So by your definition the othear kid was stalling since he didn't score any points. I doubt he was stalling at that level when he was losing he was just out matched

But, to play Devil's advocate, (you already knows I'm a Robles fan). . . "You'd be stalling and outmatched to if you opponent weighed 20 pounds more than you!"

Again, I think Robles won fair and square. Can't these college men find a way to beat a man that only has one leg? Especially from the neutral position? Apparently not. Why not? Robles is too strong and too good. Go Robles! The story of the decade!

Lets make this a thread that also turns out to be 'other disabled athletes that have been a big inspiration' or something like that. If you want to any way.

I'll start. Wilma Rudolph. Track star from the 60's. Born with polio. She wore leg braces until she was 12. She nan for the first time at age 13. 7 years later, she won 3 gold medals at the Olympics. Winning all of her heats and of course the finals. Her events:

100, 200 and 400 x 100 (she ran the last leg of course).

She is no longer with us. Cancer got her. But, her story continues to amaze and inspire others. I show her story to my students every year.

RIP Wilma.

I know he has already been mentioned bit i will throw him out there again Earl Jones

I guess the natural human mentality is to hate/dislike people with great success .. Even when they did it with all the chips stacked against them.

Cokeley your post is ridiculous .. I could get into a couple different scenarios on why your coming off very dumb on this but I'll just leave it at that

I second that Chase. This young man was born this way. He has taken a raw deal at birth and made the most of it. There are alot of people that where given two legs at birth and did not get anywhere near what this wrestler has accomplished at ASU with just one leg. He did not recieve his scholarship till he won the AZ state title as a senior. Give the guy a break!!


Jamie Davis
Andover, Kansas


It is not how you start but how you finish that is important!

I never thought I'd say this, but I completely agree with Cokeley. Every time Robles steps on the mat, he wrestles somebody with two legs. It is more of a disadvantage for anyone going against him as they have to adjust their style so much. I'm just grateful that they didn't give into the pity party and award him the Hodge.

Chase, rotflmao!

So, who did win the Hodge this year? Burroughs I assume?

Okay, here it is! I agree that Robles has tremendous disadvantages in his life that he has overcome like a champion ... and no one is taking anything away from him!!

But clearly, his opponents are at a disadvantage when wrestling Robles! (such as they were when wrestling Earl Jones) Admitedly, wrestlers are often at a disadvantage going into matches with Robles but when wrestling Robles that disadvantage becomes huge. Not only does an opponent have to wrestle a superior athlete with a ton of quickness and technical skill but when game planning ... so much of your offense is taken away!

How does an opponent go from being a National champ one year ... to looking absolutely average the next? My take ... he had a different opponent ... what made Robles different was his disadvatage and his advantage!!

jmo

How does an opponent go from being a National champ one year ... to looking absolutely average the next?
jmo [/quote]

Hard, hard work.

Like somebody else on here said, if it is such a HUGH advantage why don't we have an endless line of wrestlers both young and old waiting in line to get one of their legs amputated so they to can 'easily' became a national champ?

The young man worked real, real hard. I commend him for that.

Now, go get some Gold at the Olympics and shut Cokeley up! Turn Cokeley into a Robles fan! lol.

then explain why robles wasn't undefeated and 4x champ. he wasn't 4x high school state champ. he has never had the leg, how did anyone EVER beat him!

He learned how to counter the head pinch, underhook and shuck.


He wrestles 50 matches a year Anthony's way while everyone else gets to wrestle just one. Watching his matches is like watching paint dry. More than half of the most common wrestling moves are eliminated by his disability. I applaud him for overcoming but ultimately the disablity became his greatest ally. I knew when I posted it would be controversial. I have never had a problem speaking my mind and I always think through what I am saying before I post so I can stand behind my position. I would rather watch McDonough and Precin wrestle 20 times than watch Robles wrestle once. His arms are stronger and longer than all of the 125's. His hands are bigger and stronger. Move him up just one wait class and it would be much more even. His championship will set him up for life. If he never screws up he will never have to get a job the rest of his life. I think that is great. I am just ready for the sport to return to normalcy.

Hard, hard work.

Like somebody else on here said, if it is such a HUGH advantage why don't we have an endless line of wrestlers both young and old waiting in line to get one of their legs amputated so they to can 'easily' became a national champ?

The young man worked real, real hard. I commend him for that.

Now, go get some Gold at the Olympics and shut Cokeley up! Turn Cokeley into a Robles fan! lol. [/quote]

I have never seen him wrestle GR or FS. I don't think FILA officials will cut him any slack.

Perhaps I should have followed my personal rules and not involve myself in no-win topics but since I did, I will continue!

Robles IS an accomplished wrestler who deserves a TON of credit for overcoming the obstacles in front of him! He was worked very very hard at developing his style!

However, saying his hard work is what won him a D1 title, in my opinion, is minimizing all the work of his opponents!

Often times I hear coaches say, "you've got to work harder to win" or "you have to want it more!" I'm not sure at the upper levels, work and desire are a huge factor!

Now, before you jump on my back for that comment, admitedly one must be an extremely hard worker and have a huge amount of desire but I feel those traits exist in most upper level wrestlers!

... more later!

... I'm back!

What I am saying is imo Robles's hard work was not the determining factor in his win. Sometimes individuals styles and differences ARE!

One can scout Robles but what can you do to physically prepare if Robles is your matchup. Robles has a style that is unique and hard to game plan against. I venture to say many of his opponents are ill-prepared to wrestle him!

... more later!!

Randy cued me on to this. Very interesting discussion. Out of one side of our mouths, we sing the praises of wrestling as a sport that anyone of any size or body type can participate in...while out of the other side some are glad we don't have to see Robles, one of the most successful wrestlers ever with a disability, wrestle again. Just can't make up our minds, can we?

When you squeeze the sand bag, it takes different shapes, but the weight of the bag stays the same. It's no different with body types. Of course Robles wouldn't have the upper body mass he would with two legs...one's legs are about 40 per cent of their body weight.

To those who think Robles has an unfair advantage...well, if you want to live his life, keep talking. I sure wouldn't. If you'd also prefer not to, then be a little more respectful of what he's overcome to get where he is.

It's not an unfair advantage in life. It's an advantage in wrestling.

Yea Robles won cause he has an unfair advantage, he doesnt have any skill at all! I mean he only wrestling division I wrestlers, everyone knows they all suck

Totally respect Anthony and what he has done with what he has. I have NOTHING personally against him. I am happy for him. I would have him over for dinner, hire him to speak to my company, hug him, high five him, etc. He has done NOTHING wrong. He is a CLASS act. In life he has won by perservering and in wrestling he adapted and did the same.

I am merely pointing out the facts. I don't enjoy watching the type of wrestling that occurs when he is on the mat. Just a personal preference stated with some obvious facts.

Totally respect Anthony and what he has done with what he has. I have NOTHING personally against him. I am happy for him. I would have him over for dinner, hire him to speak to my company, hug him, high five him, etc. He has done NOTHING wrong. He is a CLASS act. In life he has won by perservering and in wrestling he adapted and did the same.

**But would you invite him to 'The Barn' and have Ryne wrestle him?! ;-)

Who knows . . . Ryne might have a one legger in the NCAA's someday. Better be prepared he might get a beat-down like that poor Iowa kid did.

Even if they did move him up one weight class then the other wrestleres would still have to adapt (JUST LIKE HE DID)just for that one match AND even if they did move him up you would still be complaining. HE HAS ONE LEG!!!!!

The one leg advantage. . .

BS.

Just maybe Robles turned it into an advantage (the only way to find that out would be to do a double blind study with a placebo group - impossible), via hard work, determination, etc. . .

No one can prove or disprove that having one leg is an advantage when it comes to wrestling. If it were such a big advantage, why do we not see more one legged champions on all levels - from kids to D-1?

I was not a very good wrestler. I would have been even WORSE with just one leg. Do any of you studly wrestlers (you know, State champs, state runner-ups) do YOU think you would have been better with if you would have had one leg?

What about Zach Roberson? Would he have had such a successful career? What about Shawn Bunch? Again, impossible to tell. They could have made adaptions . . . Who knows...

Chase, I enjoy your insights and your sense of humor.

Finally Cokeley, are ya gonna invite Robles to your barn or not?! ;-)

GO ROBLES! You da man! The most inspirational story of the century and told with grace, humility and dignity!

Dean Welsh

I like to have a little fun on here from time to time! ha