The state qualifiers: Jackson Robbins

‘Birds don’t think about flying. They just fly’

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Jackson Robbins

Of the four members of the Rochester boys wrestling team participating in the state finals this weekend, Jackson Robbins might be the least heralded.

Robbins did not even start his high school career at Rochester; he started at Caston and then spent his sophomore season off the competitive mat in transfer purgatory.

And after all, Layne Horn, Brant Beck and Declan Gard have been state placers before, and Robbins, a 120-pound junior, is going for the first time.

“This feels awesome,” Robbins said. “To work so hard for something and finally get the result that you wanted. … It’s just awesome to take this all in. This is all new to me, so it’s just amazing to see how far I’ve come. I’m just so blessed.”

In a sport that seems to reward discipline and mental toughness more than most, Robbins might even stand out from his teammates.

“Jackson, he is only going to continue to get better at a rapid rate,” Rochester coach Tristan Wilson said. “Because he is the most disciplined, organized, takes-care-of-everything type of kid you can ask for. He’s been a blessing on the team. He models it. He’s a captain for a reason. … It just shows how hard he works in every aspect of his life. Whatever he does, he is going to be successful. It just happens to be wrestling.”

Said teammate Declan Gard: “Jackson’s someone in our room who puts in more work than anybody.”

Robbins barreled his way through the Plymouth sectional and the Penn regional – five falls and a tech fall in six matches and two blue ribbons – but his second-place performance at the east Chicago semistate might have put him at a new level.

He pinned Lafayette Jeff’s Parker Barnard in 1:50 in the first round. He pinned Griffith’s Jeffery Fleming in 1:10 in the ticket round.

“I heard birds don’t think about flying,” Robbins said. “They just fly. It’s something that happens, and then I just came out on top, so it’s great.”

Then he beat Portage’s Zavier Acuña 5-4 in the semifinals. That’s the same Zavier Acuña to whom he lost 15-2 during their regular season meeting in December.

He said he relied on more “forward pressure” and not letting Acuña get on his legs as much and “just being a dog.”

“There’s not much that can describe it,” Robbins said of beating Acuña. “It’s just awesome to see the hard work pay off.”

And then came his match against Merrillville’s fifth-ranked Ethan Alvarez in the final. Robbins was leading 4-3 in the third period before Alvarez got a takedown and went on to win 6-5.

“I just think in every position, just look to score points,” Robbins said. “Obviously, I didn’t get it done, and I’m just looking to improve on that.”

Robbins drew North Miami’s Braylon McIntire in the first round of the state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis at 6 p.m. tonight. McIntire beat Robbins 11-6 at the Rochester John McKee Memorial Invitational Dec. 20 and 10-7 in overtime at the Class 1A Team State Duals at Franklin Jan. 10.

Now they meet for a spot on the state podium.

“The goal is to place, to win that first match,” Robbins said Saturday before he found out he was going to be wrestling McIntire. “Just try my hardest. Whatever happens happens. I’m just going to put it all out there.”