Born with just one leg, 17 year-old Anthony Robles of Mesa, Ariz. capped off an amazing career on March 26 by winning the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) national title at 112 lbs. with a 9-1 victory in the finals. The NHSCA invites only seniors in high school who won state titles to its national meet. Robles became the first disabled wrestler to win a title at the NHSCA national championships.
As a junior, Robles placed second in the NHSCA national championships for juniors.
The win also finished off a perfect 53-0 senior season for him. For his four-year career, he posted a record of 131-15 and won two Arizona state titles. He was also undefeated as a junior. Amazingly, Anthony never wrestled until his family moved from just outside of Los Angeles to Mesa before his freshman year. He aspires to someday compete in mixed martial arts after he completes his collegiate wrestling career at Arizona State Univ., where he will study Business.
Recently, Anthony has been featured on ESPN's Cold Pizza, CNN, as the ABC World News Tonight Person of the Week. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Ultimate Fighting Championships also honored him at their pay-per-view events and he has thrown out the first pitch before a Diamondbacks-Giants game.
"I think God gave me a gift by only giving me one leg," Robles said after winning his national title. "Other people may not see it that way, but I do."
His coach, Bob Williams, calls him "the most inspirational athlete I've ever seen."
This past weekend, Anthony signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle at Arizona State Univ., a college wrestling powerhouse, where he plans to study Business. In high school, he posted a 3.5 GPA. He also hopes to one day compete in mixed martial arts competition.
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