Written by John Fuller
Everyone has always known that Zach Roberson has all the talent in the world. But sometimes, they just happen to forget about him.
Throughout his entire career, Roberson has been a dominant performer. However, he is always competing at deep weight classes, whether it be in college or at the international level.
His 133-pound weight class left him with such NCAA individual powers as Travis Lee, Johnny Thompson and Ryan Lewis. But in 2004, he topped all of them with an NCAA title for Iowa State.
Part of Roberson’s underachiever stigma comes from himself.
An undefeated, four-time Kansas state champion at Blue Valley Northwest High School, Roberson went to Iowa State with high expectations “and a quiet demeanor.
That shyness for Roberson translated into a lack of passion as far as some Iowa State fans were concerned. But Roberson never needed to question his passion or work ethic. He knew that his time at the top would come “he just wasn’t sure when it would happen.
“You always want to go into something thinking you’re going to win. That’s how I was my freshman year at Iowa State . I always believed I could be the best. Sometimes it just takes a little bit longer than you originally expect. College is a major learning process, “Roberson said.
In 2003, already an All-American, Roberson was pinned in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Not many remember that he battled all the way back to fourth place “a difficult task that included wrestling a high number of matches.
It was that three-day event that helped him to his title nearly one year later.
“That tournament taught me a lot. After losing in the first round like that, I could have either folded, or figured out how to help my team, “Roberson said. “I decided to use it as motivation. Even though I came back for fourth, I always remembered how disappointed I was after that first loss. I didn’t want to dwell on it, but I didn’t want to forget it either.”
But even with an NCAA title on his resume, Roberson continued to assume the quiet role. That’s why it was somewhat of a surprise to see him on the Iowa Stalkers during Real Pro Wrestling’s Season One. Surrounded by five former Iowa Hawkeye wrestlers and Joe Heskett, a former ISU teammate who was very vocal, Roberson was once again the forgotten wrestler.
Once again, Roberson made them remember.
Competing at the comfortable weight of 132 lbs., he dashed through opponents Lewis and Greco-Roman star Joe Warren before losing 8-7 in one of the most exciting matches of Season One to Tony DeAnda of the New York Outrage.
His success there helped springboard him to success in international competition as well, culminating with the U.S . Nationals freestyle crown just two weeks ago.
There, he downed 2005 U.S. World Team member Michael Lightner in the championship bout. It was the biggest win of what is shaping up to be a long career.
“Ever since I got out of college, I have been training so hard in freestyle. I still have a ways to go to get where I want to be, but for the first time really since high school, guys are coming into a tournament trying to knock me off the top.”
And if all goes according to Roberson’s plan, by the time 2008 has passed, no one will have forgotten about him.
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