Wv Wrestler Grows Into Role Of Success - Literally Ty Roberts Has Dad’S Mat Legacy

Ty Roberts has a wrestling pedigree.

The sport came naturally since his father, Mark, was a state runnerup at Mead High School and wrestled collegiately.

He cut his teeth on the Spokane Junior Wrestling program as an elementary school youngster.

“Dad coached WV’s junior program ever since it started,” said the Eagle senior. “We have a mat in the basement and me and him go at it quite a bit.”

Yet until last year’s end-of-season tournaments the West Valley athlete’s efforts had largely gone unrecognized.

In part it was because of his rapid physical growth. He jumped from 101 pounds as a freshman to 129 pounds as a sophomore, 141 pounds late last year and 158 pounds this season.

In part it was because the Frontier League has been shorted on post-season opportunities.

Last year, however, Roberts made the best of a tough situation. He qualified just fifth, needing an entry round win, to participate in regionals. But he went on to finish third there and fifth in state.

“Sub-regionals was pretty tough,” said Roberts. “I thought it was almost a tougher tournament than state.”

This year, the Eagle senior has established himself as one of the area’s top competitors at his weight. He has placed first in one tournament, second in two others and fourth in one more.

Two of his four losses, have been to an international place winner. Another was to a returning regional champion and state placer with whom he has split matches.

This despite the fact he has gained nearly 60 pounds in four years.

“That’s a pretty good growth rate,” said his Eagle coach, Mike Williams. “Usually what happens is kids have a hard time adjusting if they wrestled at 101 pounds. It takes more technique and a lot less muscling.”

Roberts was a district runnerup his freshman year and finished sixth in regionals. As a sophomore he placed fourth in district. Because the Frontier League advanced just three wrestlers, he missed regionals.

Last year, the four-team Frontier league went to a sub-regional format against the Mid-Valley making it harder to get to state. Second in district to two-time state finalist Brad Crockett, Roberts made the most of his opportunity after bumping up a weight the last week of the season.

It was a weight class in which four of the five regional qualifiers would place among the state’s top five.

“It was getting harder for him to make weight and we figured he had just as good a shot there,” said Williams of the decision. “It ended up being a good move in the long run.”

Roberts, a two-way player for WV in football and all-Frontier punter and place kicker, bulked up even more this year.

“At first it was kind of a mental block, because the guys looked so huge to me,” said Roberts of competition at 158 pounds. “Then I watched a couple matches on film and saw that I was the same size. It’s not too bad any more.”

They key, said Williams, has been his continual improvement in technique despite his weight gains.

And Roberts was never one to shy away from the challenge of wrestling.

“It is one of those sports you hate to love,” said Roberts. “You hate having to make weight, but when you win it’s definitely worth it.”