TOP STORY > >Inspiration from a wrestler

By Chief Master Sgt. Gregg Kollbaum
314th Operations Group superintendent

In March of this year, Arizona State University senior Anthony Robles walked on to the mat to compete in the 125-pound National College Athletic Association wrestling championship match.

Leading up to this event he had a very successful career. He completed two undefeated seasons and won state championship titles while in high school, in addition to, winning three PAC-10 conference championships while in college.

After looking over his record, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him win the championship match that day in March. The gravity of this accomplishment, and all of those that led to this event, is realized when you see that Anthony was born without his right leg - making him the first disabled wrestler in history to win a national college wrestling championship.

So how does a man with only one leg realize that he wants to be a wrestler?

Anthony’s career started when his cousin brought him to a practice hoping to get him interested in wrestling. That day, the lightest wrestler on the team didn’t have a training partner and Anthony reluctantly started training with him. He continued training with the team and struggled the first year, but then he met and started training with a high school state champion, Chris Freije.

Chris taught him the skills needed to be a great wrestler and Anthony diligently practiced to learn the sport he would eventually master.

Though Anthony’s hard work and dedication were a big part of his success, he would not have been there without the help of two people. Anthony’s cousin and Chris Freije influenced him and put him on the path to success. Without influences like them, I would guess Anthony Robles would not be an NCAA champion.

Though Anthony’s accomplishment is an inspiration, the spark needed to start his journey was provided by other people.

The kids and Airmen of today need this type of motivation. They need to be challenged mentally, physically, academically and socially. Like Anthony, they should get out of their comfort zone and experience some difficult things in life.

When they fall, they shouldn’t quit, and the “pain” shouldn’t always be quickly soothed away. The sense of failure, in moderate doses, can propel an individual to success and give them confidence to achieve even bigger feats. Kids and young adults should be provided with the coaching to get them through the rough spots and encouraged to start again. This is a great way to help people reach their ultimate potential.

By leading our young people to experiences and giving them the tools to succeed they will surpass many expectations just like Anthony did in wrestling. If his cousin would have looked at the disability as a disability, Anthony might have lived his life much differently. He would have never met his coach and not reached his ultimate potential. I don’t know what Anthony will do next, but I am sure he has the confidence to do anything that he puts his mind to doing. Parents, bosses and supervisors can use this as an example and give our young people the inspiration to achieve greatness.