Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

ASU Wrestler Wins NCAA Title—With 1 Leg

Anthony Robles was born without right leg

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 20, 2011 11:59 AM CDT

(Newser) – The NCAA may be better associated with madness in March, but it was all inspiration last night as Anthony Robles, an Arizona State University wrestler born without a right leg, snagged an NCAA title in what he says is the final match of his life. The 125-pounder took a 7-1 decision from Iowa's Matt McDonough, reports AZCentral, and rose to a standing ovation. "I had a lot of butterflies going out there," but after his first takedown, he says it was "back to business."

Robles has a bigger torso than most in his weight class, and because he can't wrestle standing, he forces opponents to stay low. He says that though he wrestles for love of the sport, it still "inspires me when I get kids, even adults, who write me on Facebook or send me letters in the mail just saying that I've inspired them, and they look up to me, and they're motivated to do things that other people wouldn't have thought possible."

Arizona State's Anthony Robles, right, poses after beating Iowa's Matt McDonough in their 125-pound finals match, Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Arizona State's Anthony Robles poses after winning the outstanding wrestler award, Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Arizona State's Anthony Robles, right, battles against Iowa's Matt McDonough during their 125-pound finals match, Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Arizona State's Anthony Robles, top, battles against Iowa's Matt McDonough during their 125-pound finals match, Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

89%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

College Boots Wrestlers for Baring All on Porn Site

Coach kicks Nebraska pair off team for nude Web videos

(NEWSER) - Two University of Nebraska wrestlers have been chucked off the team after posing naked for a gay pornography site, the Omaha World-Herald reports. The coach said the behavior of the two wrestlers, including 2007 125-pound NCAA champion Paul Donahoe, did not reflect "the standard of excellence we aspire to on and off the mat." More»

'Macho Man' Randy Savage Killed in Car Accident

WWF wrestler has heart attack while driving

(NEWSER) - "Macho Man" Randy Savage, the WWF wrestler and Slim Jim spokesman, has died in a Tampa car accident, TMZ reports. The 58-year-old had a heart attack while driving, said his brother. The Jeep sped through oncoming traffic and struck a tree head-on, highway officials said. Savage died in the hospital; his wife, Lynn, who was also in the car, suffered minor injuries and was treated in a different hospital. More»

Washington St.'s Defense Traps ASU

No. 17 Cougars shut down Sun Devils for fourth straight win

(NEWSER) - No. 17 Washington State showed why it has the third-best defense in the country last night as it held Arizona State to 33% shooting in a 59-47 Pac-10 win, reports the Associated Press. The Cougars defense was so good that the offense went six minutes without a basket, yet WSU was never threatened. The Sun Devils were held to 21 points under their season average. More»

WWE Wrestles With Drugs, Lifestyle

Untimely deaths, widespread abuse appear to be linked

(NEWSER) - Chris Benoit's murder-suicide last June spotlighted the disproportionate number of early deaths among professional wrestlers; one activist has counted more than 60 dead before reaching 50 over the past 10 years. And a taxing, drug-addled lifestyle plays a big role. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

ASU Wrestler Wins NCAA Title—With 1 Leg

Anthony Robles was born without right leg

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

NCAA • wrestling • wrestler • Arizona State Sun Devils • Arizona State University • Anthony Robles

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

College Boots Wrestlers for Baring All on Porn Site

Coach kicks Nebraska pair off team for nude Web videos

'Macho Man' Randy Savage Killed in Car Accident

WWF wrestler has heart attack while driving

Washington St.'s Defense Traps ASU

No. 17 Cougars shut down Sun Devils for fourth straight win

WWE Wrestles With Drugs, Lifestyle

Untimely deaths, widespread abuse appear to be linked

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?