Anthony Robles

Anthony Robles (born July 20, 1988) is a wrestler who won the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship in the 125-pound weight class despite being born with only one leg.

Contents

Youth

Robles was born with only one leg, but refused to wear a prosthetic leg, removing it at the age of 3. [1] Due to his leg being missing all the way up to the hip, he has no stump to attach a prosthetic limb to. He endeavored to work around his missing leg, strengthening his body with various exercises. When Robles was in the sixth grade, he set a record for the most pushups by a member of his school. [1] He began wrestling in the eighth grade, joining in while watching one of his older cousins practice. Robles won two Arizona State wrestling championships, going 46-0 in both his junior and senior years at Mesa High School, in Mesa, Arizona. [2]Robles finished his high school wrestling career with a record of 129-15.

Arizona State

Robles redshirted as a freshman at Arizona State University, and finished 6th in the 2006 FILA Junior World Championships in the 55kg Freestyle Wrestling category.[2] Robles started his collegiate wrestling career in 2007-08, where he was nationally ranked [1][2] and finished the year with a record of 25-11, falling just short of being named as an All-American. In his second competitive year as a collegiate wrestler (2008-2009) Robles earned All-American Honors, finishing the year 29-8, winning the Pac 10 Conference Championship at 125 pounds and finishing fourth in the NCAA Championship's 125 pound weight class tournament. In 2009-10, Robles again earned All-American honors, finishing seventh in the NCAA 125 pound weight class, going 32-4 on the season, and repeating as the Pac-10 125 pound wrestling champion.

In Robles' final year of eligibility (2010-11), Robles went undefeated, going 36-0 on the year, [3], becoming a three-time Pac-10 champion (defeating Jason Lara from Oregon State in the final [4], and a national champion, defeating the defending 125 pound NCAA Champion, Iowa's Matt McDonough 7-1 in the final. For his efforts, Robles was voted the Tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler.[5]

The 5'8" [6]Robles concluded his Arizona State wrestling career with a record of 122-23, a three-time Pac-10 wrestling champion as well as a three-time All-American. Robles ranks 8th for most match wins by an Arizona State wrestler. [3]

Future

Robles has stated that he wishes to become a motivational speaker, specifically for those who face similar handicaps. [7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Doyel, Gregg (2008-02-10). "Sun Devils wrestler different, all right -- extraordinarily so". CBSSports.com. http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/10632882. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  2. ^ a b c "Anthony Robles's Bio at Arizona State's Athletics Page". Arizona State University. http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-wrestl/mtt/robles_anthony00.html. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  3. ^ a b "Wrestler with one leg wins NCAA Title". FoxSports.Com. http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/Anthony-Robles-wrestler-with-one-leg-wins-national-title-031911. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  4. ^ "Boise State Wins 2011 PAC-10 Championship". Pacific-10 Conference Website. http://www.pac-10.org/News/tabid/863/Article/221444/boise-state-wins-2011-pac-10-wrestling-championship.aspx. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  5. ^ Mihoces, Gary (2011-03-21). "Born with one leg, Arizona St. wrestler wins NCAA title". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2011-03-19-anthony-robles-wrestling-championships_N.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  6. ^ Taylor, Phil (2010-03-22). "A Life in Balance". Sports Illustrated. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1167418/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-21. 
  7. ^ Brown, Larry. "Arizona State Wrestler Anthony Robles Dominates on One Leg". Larry Brown Sports. http://larrybrownsports.com/wrestling/arizona-state-wrestler-anthony-robles-dominates-on-one-leg/59447. Retrieved 2011-03-21.