It’s difficult to define a person.Characteristics can fluctuate, especially as a person finds more and more success in his or her life.
Eight years ago a “scrawny” Anthony Robles hopped onto the wrestling mat.
Yes, hopped.
More than 200 wins and two Pac-10 titles later, that ninth grader has seen his popularity skyrocket.
The story of an elite wrestler standing on one leg has captivated many audiences.
ABC News named him Person of the Week in 2006. He was a finalist for an ESPY Award (Best Male Athlete with a Disability). He has been interviewed by Jimmy Kimmel and has appeared on several other national television shows.
That only scratches the surface.
Physically, Robles is nothing like that young kid learning how to wrestle for the first time.
Pound for pound, he is one of the strongest athletes at ASU, with the ability to bench-press over 300 pounds (he weighs 125).
While he could probably beat the hell out of anyone, he would much rather shake hands.
It’s that personality that defines him.
The beginning
There was no club wrestling and no Monday night practices after learning fourth-grade fractions — only a curiosity.
His first season of wrestling at Mesa Junior High School didn’t see much success.
He didn’t have any style, Mesa High School assistant coach Dave D’Dominico said.
While he now begins every match in a crouch, Robles stood straight up during his freshman year of high school to begin every match.
“Everybody would just tackle him, turn him over and pin him,” he said. “Really, Anthony just wasn’t any good.”
When Anthony and his mother, Judy, ended up in front of D’Dominico and then-head coach Bobby Williams, both coaches were curious to see if this was something he wanted to take seriously.
No one knew what his potential was, and his wrestling style needed a desperate renovation.
“He couldn’t move, he had no strength to him, he had no technique, he had no anything,” D’Dominico said. “First thing we did was put him down on all threes. Anthony did not like that.”
Then during the middle of his sophomore season, Anthony began experiencing success.
The same kid that finished sixth in the city tournament his freshman year ended up placing sixth at the state tournament only a year later.
It was his last high school season that had a number other then zero in the loss column.
At one point during his senior season, he was so dominant that he wasn’t getting any mat time.
The pins were coming too quickly.
“He wasn’t finishing the matches, so about halfway through the season, we pulled the plug on him pinning people,” D’Dominico said. “Then people said, ‘Robles can’t pin anybody anymore, people are catching up to him,’ and me, Anthony and Bobby Williams [were] laughing … and we turned him loose. He
pinned every single match after that, including the state title match.”
Anthony then went on to win a national title in 2006, capping off a high school career with 129 victories.
It was an amazing turnaround for a young man that had only been wrestling for four years, compared to others who had been wrestling as early as age five.
“I remember [him] walking in on crutches on that August afternoon, and now look at him,” D’Dominico said. “The kid did it. [His] work ethic was second to none.”
The Next Level
Two state titles and one national title didn’t send all the nation’s top wrestling programs to Anthony’s doorstep.
Then Thom Ortiz, ASU’s head coach at the time, had the upper hand being from a local school, but he knew he got more than a great wrestler when Anthony joined the program.
“I had the advantage of being in Arizona to see that look in his eye,” Ortiz said.
He compared that “look” to arguably the greatest wrestler in NCAA history, Cael Sanderson, who finished his career 159-0, and former ASU wrestler and UFC fighter Cain Velasquez.
Remember that Anthony only has one leg?
Well, he ran a mile in eight minutes on crutches.
Think that is amazing?
Well, he ran up and down Piestewa Peak twice on crutches.
Ortiz vividly remembers that conversation.
“I said, ‘Well how was it coming down?’ and he goes ‘Well I almost fell off twice,’” Ortiz said. “I said, ‘Okay, you’ve done it twice, that’s enough. You’re swimming from now on.”
It didn’t take long for Anthony to make a name for himself on the college stage.
After redshirting one year, he posted a 25-11 record and was one victory shy of being an All-American.
Then in 2008 the ASU wrestling program was going to be discontinued, which meant Anthony was going to be a talented free agent.
His loyalty mattered most.
When the program was saved, he chose to stay.
He has recorded 86 wins as a Sun Devil and seems to be missing only a national title on his resume.
“You can never count Anthony out, and if you do you’re making a mistake,” Ortiz said.
The Person
Take away the accolades, take down the wrestling mat and take away all the fans.
There is no difference.
Anthony Robles is Anthony Robles.
“He is a blessing,” his mother Judy said.
It’s difficult to be negative in front of a person that will sit and sign autographs for hours after a match.
It’s difficult to be cynical in front of a person that would shake hands after being openly disrespected.
But it’s so easy to be positive around him, and that’s what he wants.
“Don’t treat him like he’s something, but don’t treat him like he’s nothing either,” Judy said. “Just treat him like Anthony. He doesn’t want any special treatment and never ever has.”
Find someone to say something negative about the man — honestly. Try.
“If you want an ambassador for the human race … I think Anthony Robles is that person,” Dave D’Dominico said. “He is everything good about what humans are.”
Anthony is an accomplished wrestler and creates new fans every time he walks onto the mat.
But in his mind, and in the mind of everyone who knows him well, Anthony is first and foremost a great person, and a great wrestler second.
“Obviously I want to be remembered as a great wrestler, but I think there is a lot more to it then that,” he said. “I want people to see that anything is possible. If you set your mind to something, you can do it.”
Reach the reporter at nathan.meacham@asu.edu
