so the hawk board is ****** the asu kid with one leg has an advantage

**rebecacy** · 03-20-2011, 11:18 AM

I know nothing about wrestling -- but if the ASU kid had two legs he would be in a higher weight class or two -- for those that know wrestling - is it an advantage or not???

**Cy's Taxi** · 03-20-2011, 11:20 AM

It's really not an advantage. There's so much that you can't do because you don't have a limb. Sure the kid has more muscle, but I say it's fair.

Kid has a great story too. I'm very happy for him.

**azepp** · 03-20-2011, 11:22 AM

Really? Which is a bigger advantage: wrestling a couple classes lower or having two legs? I don't honestly know the answer, but I think I would take my chances at a higher weight class with both legs.

**Royalclone** · 03-20-2011, 11:22 AM

I think it has both advantages and disadvantages. It comes down to the kid overcame his handicap, and McDonough had never wrestled him before. Last year the kid beat Long during the season, but Long learned from the experience and upset him to get to the finals only to lose to McDonough. If Long had not done that, McDonough may not have been the defending champion this year.

**NobodyBeatsCy** · 03-20-2011, 11:28 AM

Iowa fans whining - I'm shocked, I tells ya!

**cloneswereall** · 03-20-2011, 11:39 AM

Is not being able to walk an advantage?

People get upset because Robles is a beast, and man-handles opponents. However, Long beating him was a huge upset last year, and the crowd was in disbelief that he did that last year.

Long story short, Robles is a badass, and Iowa fans are whiny because a "cripple" beat McDonough

**tim_redd** · 03-20-2011, 11:39 AM

I'm no wrestler, but I'd lean towards yes. You could clearly see he had significantly more muscle mass than his opponents.

**clonedude** · 03-20-2011, 11:42 AM

All that anyone needs to know is that this kid has been beaten quite a bit in his career... so it can be done.

It's just sour grapes... period.

Robles didn't win the national championship last year... and he did this year. He dedicated himself to improving enough to win it this year. He's not unbeatable.

Like with any wrestler... you need to figure out a way to beat your opponent.

**Wales** · 03-20-2011, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by NobodyBeatsCy

Iowa fans whining - I'm shocked, I tells ya!

In my opinion Long beat two wrestlers in last years tourney than MM wouldn't have Robles and Escabado. That just how the brackets unfold sometimes, had it played out differently Long may have been the champ. That said it didn't look like MM had a game plan, and played right into Robles strength. I remember Long on the bottom last year in the quarters against Robles and two or three different times got to his feet and kept his hands and arms fully extended not letting Robles to get his clamps on them, at the time I thought what a great strategic ploy.

**CyBroncos** · 03-20-2011, 11:46 AM

He does have the upper body strength of a 157-pounder and keeps his one leg back and protected well. But then again the guy has one leg, calling that an advantage over a person with two strong legs is kind of ridiculous.

McDonough went in with the wrong gameplan and paid the price. He should have moved around and kept Robles moving and tried to wear him out. Instead he tied up and went right into Robles' strength. That falls on Brands and coaching

**clonedude** · 03-20-2011, 11:53 AM

I'm no wrestling expert by any means, but watching these matches this weekend... it's amazing to me how often you see guys spreading both of their legs out to create a wide base so that they can't get turned over.

How would Robles be able to do that?

Obviously, I think he has the upper body strength advantage, but I think he has obvious disadvantages as well. Doesn't any wrestler?

**madcityCY** · 03-20-2011, 12:01 PM

First hand experience of wrestling a kid w/ one leg:

a leg is typically 1/7 of your body weight. In my case, the wrestler was much stronger than I was. He also kept a low center of gravity, as we wrestled on his knees.

IMO, the problem wasn't so much that he was stronger, but that his style of wrestling was so much different than every other opponent that you normally prepare for, that you're completely out of your game. Moves don't work like you learn them to - it is not easy to prepare for someone like this.

In the end, you weigh the same, gotta beat them.

**brianhos** · 03-20-2011, 12:06 PM

It is a great story, of course hawks hate it...

**CydeOut** · 03-20-2011, 12:08 PM

The kid has won one title and been beaten many times before. I agree with Clonedude, this is pure sour grapes by the Hawk fans. Robles improved a ton in the wrestlingroom and in the weightroom...and to say it bluntly, he whooped McDonough's *** in the first period. Don't cheapen the kids title by saying being born with one leg actually has an unfair advantage. WEAK SAUCE!