With the proper prodding from his high school coach, Bobby Williams, and wrestling pal Chris Frejie, Robles became a champion. The one-legged wrestler went 96-0 his final two seasons in high school.
Now competitors said he had an unfair advantage. His upper body was stronger than those of most kids wrestling his weight. He had a lower center of gravity because he only had one leg. His opponents only had one leg to go after on takedowns.
That was frustrating, too.
"My coach told me he knew I was getting somewhere when the haters started bringing out stuff . . . and picking out things," said Robles, who was born without a right leg.
And still there were doubters. Lots of doubters.
Schools are supposed to line up with scholarship offers for high school wrestlers who win consecutive state championships. Robles got two phone calls - one from Drexel, the other from Arizona State - and zero scholarship offers.
He decided to stay home and attend Arizona State.
"The big thing was my leg," he said. "I was told it was because I was too big a risk to give money to. They felt they could get other wrestlers out there who were not as big a risk as me."
They were all wrong, of course. Robles proved that over and over again. He proved it by finishing fourth in the country as a sophomore and seventh as a junior. Both were incredible accomplishments for a one-legged wrestler.
But neither fulfilled his dream of a national championship. He had to wait for his trip to Philadelphia to achieve that goal. After climbing the Art Museum steps with his brother, Nicholas, for a victory dance with Rocky last March, he went out that night and completed a 41-0 season.
