Wrestling: Robbins secures No. 1 ranking highlighted by impressive undefeated stretch

By BRANDON HURLEY
sports@beeherald.com

Greene County’s McKinley Robbins has enjoyed a rather quick ascension a year and a half into his varsity wrestling career.

The sophomore was recently anointed as the top-ranked 120 pound wrestler in Class 2A by both the Predicament and IA Wrestle, the state’s most visible wrestling publications.

He’s no doubt proved he’s worthy of the distinction so far, securing a 17-0 record a month into the season, not once having been met with any type of trouble.

Robbins has seemingly taken his wrestling prowess to another level this winter. After finishing runner-up at the 2020 state tournament as a freshman, the incredibly talented grappler is on a tear yet again, proving he belongs among the state’s best. Robbins dominance is evident on the mat, having secured a pin fall in each of his last five matches and seven of his last eight matches - punctuated by a two pin day Saturday, Jan. 9 at the Dick Kennedy Dual tournament in Webster City. He’s recorded a staggering 13 pins in 15 matches this winter, setting a ridiculous pace. Those two matches in which Robbins didn’t record a pin? Oh yeah, he dominated them as well, securing a double-digit major decision and a tech fall.

Robbins, who’s very attainable dream is to win a state championship, which would be the first such achievement by a Greene County athlete in since 1995, has already crossed the 50 career win total, a mark he attained on Jan. 7. He now boasts a magnificent 52-2 career record. He has an incredibly real chance of crossing the 100-win plateau next winter as a junior, if all things continue at the current pace. He has a ways to go to match Chase Flack’s school record of 147 wins, but it’s certainly possible.
Robbins is well on his way to making an even greater impact at the 2021 state tournament, which in fact, could prove to be a more favorable journey. The Greene County grappler jumped up two weight classes from a year ago, and will avoid facing off against last year’s 106 pound champion Cam Phetxoumphone, the only wrestler to defeat Robbins last winter.

Center Point-Urbana’s Cole Whitehead is ranked second while Central Dewitt’s Keaton Zeimet is ranked third.
The Rams dropped a pair of tight matches during their appearance in Webster City a few weeks back. Algona defeated GC, 40-37 while 10th-ranked Webster City also sent the Rams packing, 44-36 in a tight battle. Greene County went 2-1 in a triangular a few days earlier Jan. 7, defeating Audubon, 60-12 and Ogden, 63-29 before falling to Southeast Valley, 53-24. Robbins didn’t even spend a full 60 seconds on the mat in two of his matches Friday. He pinned Audubon’s Zeke Konkier 21 seconds into their battle while he sent Ogden’s Travis Boothroyd packing 32 seconds into their match.

The Rams are home Friday as Greene County hosts the Heart of Iowa Conference tournament.