In the span of just a few short minutes in Philadelphia, a legend was made. Redshirt freshman Vince Robinson ascended to the top of college wrestling with a lightweight national championship.
“I said I was gonna do it, and I did it,” Robinson said. “It felt amazing. I’ve never felt a feeling like that.”
NC State wrestling’s history is filled with storied careers and talented stars, but there have only been nine individual national championships for the Wolfpack — the latest being Robinson’s. Joining an exclusive club, Robinson etched his name into the sport’s history books in his first opportunity. On the surface, it looks like a sprint, but the result is the product of years of hard work and dedication.
“Any time you can win a national title, it’s the pinnacle of our sport,” said head coach Pat Popolizio. “For an athlete, when they set their goals to do it, and then it becomes a reality, I think that’s very rewarding.”
Once reaching NC State, Robinson has battled through adversity. Yet, no matter what challenge emerged, Robinson faced it head-on. From injuries to frustrating finishes, many wrestlers would have given up — but not Robinson. Instead, Robinson fought every step of the way, motivated to win and confident in his abilities.
“Sometimes the separation from some guys is the blind confidence they have in themselves,” Popolizio said. “That’s one thing that Vinnie brings to the table. He’s shown that he believes in himself … and he backs up everything that he believes in, and that’s what it takes to win at this level.”
Robinson’s first challenge came at the beginning of the season during the team’s Wrestle-Offs event. Facing one of the more experienced wrestlers in all of college wrestling, Robinson took a 5-4 loss at the hands of redshirt senior Jakob Camacho. Despite stumbling in the intrasquad scrimmage, Robinson used it to learn and improve.
“It motivated me a lot,” Robinson said. “That moment when I didn’t win the wrestle off, it hurt because everybody hates losing for sure.”
With the encouragement of his coaches, Robinson continued to work at his craft and, when the time came, was ready to step up. Before ACC play began, Robinson was a regular in the Wolfpack’s lineup. However, a knee injury requiring surgery in December proved to be Robinson’s next hurdle.
“When that happened, I was just bummed out for real,” Robinson said. “[Associate head coach Zack Esposito] stayed on me during that time, just to stay motivated and to focus on the main goal. The main goal was still three months ahead.”
Like he did all season, Robinson didn’t let the setback stop him in his quest to be a national champion. Robinson returned in time for a non-conference showdown at Oklahoma State where he faced none other than Troy Spratley — his eventual opponent in the 125-pound national championship. The win cemented Robinson’s status as a national star while also showing that his work was paying off.
“He had to get his knee cleaned up, and he was out for a month,” Popolizio said. “A lot of guys
come off those injuries and just don’t believe in themselves and question their ability. … I think that speaks to the type of competitor he is.”
Robinson certainly looked the part following his knee surgery and began tearing through ACC competition. Arguably, the biggest moment of Robinson’s regular season came against UNC, where Robinson dominated a high-stakes matchup against Carolina’s Spencer Moore. In the final bout of the evening, the Wolfpack needed a win from Robinson to complete a ten-point comeback. The redshirt freshman delivered for NC State and extended the Pack’s winning streak to 12 dual meets over the Tar Heels.
“That was my first rivalry duel, so those moments, I was just excited,” Robinson said. “All your teammates are there, and it’s on the road. … I just like moments like that to shine. It’s all on me, so I want to get it done. It’s like a buzzer beater in an NBA game.”
From there, Robinson continued to soar. Despite falling short in the ACC championship against Virginia Tech’s Eddie Ventresca, Robinson secured the No. 4 seed nationally for the NCAA Tournament. The rest is history — Robinson won five matches in the NCAA Tournament to bring home the national championship. The championship not only brought Robinson to the mountaintop but also added on to the strong legacy of the entire program.
“It’s very refreshing, and it was much needed for this program,” Popolizio said. “There were a lot of moving components this year, and we really needed some guys to step up, and that’s exactly what we got out of him.”
While he’s now at the mountaintop, don’t expect Robinson to hand away his crown. Instead, Robinson is facing his next challenge with determination and confidence to remain the best.
“I’ve never really been in this position,” Robinson. “Being the top guy, I think it just motivates me more because now they want to come and cut the snake’s head off, and I can’t let them do that.”
Challengers will certainly be lined up to bring Robinson their best every time he takes the mat. However, with a full offseason to get healthy and improve his craft, Robinson has plenty in store for next season and is just getting started.
