Third Title Would Cap Roberts’ Rule Senior Last Of Talented U-Hi Brothers

With an opportunity before him to win a third State AAA high school championship, unprecedented in the Greater Spokane League and rare statewide, University wrestler Andy Roberts remains unruffled.

“The only time I really think about it,” he said, “is when someone brings it up to me.”

Like the television automobile commercial that says, “Life is a journey, enjoy the ride,” Roberts said he experiences no pressure.

“I’m just out to have fun,” he said, adding, “And it’s a good way to pay for an education.”

The education - he will follow two older brothers to the University of Oregon wrestling program - is already assured following state titles as a freshman in 1994 and last year.

Friday, he will lead a group of 23 Greater Spokane League wrestlers, eight of them regional champions, into Mat Classic IX in the Tacoma Dome with only two regrets.

One is missing the 1995 tournament with a broken thumb suffered prior to districts.

“If I could go back, most likely I would have wrestled with it,” said Roberts. “But two years afterwards, you can say that.”

The other is his sole loss this year, a one-pointer, when the 129-pounder wrestled up at 148 against state-placer Lyle Beerbohm of Mead.

“There was really no excuse for losing,” said Roberts. “I didn’t wrestle my game and don’t feel I should have lost.”

There have been far more successes than failures in Roberts’ career.

His four-year record is 118-12. Andy and his older brothers, Kevin and Dusty, have accounted for five of U-Hi’s eight individual state titles.

Andy’s final appearance will end a Roberts-University wrestling association that dates back to 1989.

“I guess I’ll know what Jug Beck in Montana felt like without an Owens after 12 years,” said coach Don Owen, referring to the late Missoula-Sentinel coach.

“Their family has made an unbelievable impact. They helped build U-Hi into a powerhouse.”

For Andy, it was easier, coming as it did on the heels of his older brothers.

“He was on the end of a lot of punishment,” said Kevin, a two-time collegiate All-American. “Sometimes it was from me and Dusty. Sometimes I had to step in on Andy’s side.”

Being coached by his brothers as well as U-Hi’s coaching staff, admits Andy, has been a definite advantage.

“They showed me everything,” he said. “Even when I was at camp, my brother was coaching or Dusty was with me.”

Dusty, older by two years, had already won one and was favored again in 1994, but lost in an overtime semifinal. Instead, it was Andy who won his first championship as a 108-pounder.

“It was a complete surprise,” recalled his father, Don. “Nobody expected it at all.”

The turning point, said Andy, was at the Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula, where he was beaten by teammate Josh Knowles.

“I learned how much I hated losing,” he said. “After that, I didn’t lose another.”

He learned to adapt to different styles and edged Moses Lake’s Donny Anderson 4-3 in the regional final, reversing an earlier decision. The state championship followed.

His sophomore year, working out with Dusty prior to district, Andy caught his thumb in his brother’s shirt and broke it. After consulting a specialist, the family decided Andy should call it a season.

“It’s not like you’re a senior,” his father told him. “You’ve got more chances. But if you mess up the thumb now, it might never be the same.”

Andy said he used it as a stepping-stone to train harder, and last season he picked up another championship.

Andy admits now it would be nice to be going for a fourth championship instead of a third.

“Of course I’d have liked the extra one,” he said. “I would have liked to get two more.”

No matter the outcome, when Andy Roberts’ career ends, it will be more than just the end of an era.

It will alter the lives of an extended family that has made the Roberts wrestling careers a happening.

Parents Don and Nancy, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins have hit the road annually, from Missoula to Tacoma, to provide vocal support.

“When you get 50-60 fans from your own family at state,” said Andy, “it’s going to get pretty loud.”

Nancy’s brothers all wrestled. Don came to the sport from a basketball background.

“The only wrestling I’d done was when they made us do it in P.E. class,” he said. “I never even went to a match in high school. We thought those guys were kinda nuts running stairs, and we made fun of them as they ran by.”

Both parents let their kids choose their sport and then supported them. Don has come to love wrestling.

Now it is about to end at the high school level.

“I think there will be a void, somewhat,” said Don. “Luckily, we’ve got (nephews Conor Jordan and Sean Ball) to ease us out. It’s not like we’re going cold turkey.”

And if Andy doesn’t get that third state title? Don is philosophical.

“It’s already been a great ride,” he said. “If it happens, it happens. It will be a super Saturday night. If not, there’s always next year.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos (1 color)

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: DOUBLE-GOLD TAKEDOWNS Only six Greater Spokane League wrestlers have captured two State AAA titles in the tournament’s 44-year history. Nobody has won three. Mike Dotson, LC 1981, ‘82 Gordi LaCroix, Rogers 1984, ‘86 Steve Meuer, Mead 1984, ‘85 Toby Holden, CV 1987, ‘88 Dusty Roberts, U-Hi 1993, ‘95 Andy Roberts, U-Hi 1994, ‘96