Homewood-Flossmoor graduate Vincent Robinson recently found the ultimate redemption on the wrestling mat.
But before we get to that, let’s rewind to his high school days.
On a February night in 2022, Robinson — then a junior — and his coach at H-F, Jim Sokoloski, had a long, emotional chat at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
Robinson had just lost a state championship match for the second time in his high school career, falling to Mount Carmel’s Sergio Lemley in the Class 3A 132-pound championship bout.
Sokoloski promised his pupil that better days were ahead.
“Me and ‘Soko’ sat in the stairwell and cried for 20 or 30 minutes,” Robinson said. “He was like, ‘We’re going to get it next year.’”
That didn’t happen. The next season, as a senior, Robinson also ran into Lemley, this time in the semifinals. Lemley, who went on to become a four-time state champion, got the best of him again.
Two years later, though, Robinson has ascended to the top of the mountain. Forget a state championship. He’s a national champ.
On March 22 in Philadelphia, Robinson — a redshirt freshman at North Carolina State — won the NCAA title at 125 pounds.
And, as it turns out, he made one of Sokoloski’s predictions come true.
“After I lost to Lemley again as a senior, it was the same thing all over,” Robinson recalled. “We sat there crying and ‘Soko’ told me, ‘The national championship is going to feel way better.’
“It did. It just feels like a total full-circle moment.”
Robinson edged Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley 2-1 in overtime in the national championship match, scoring an escape and holding on for the win.
“My first reaction was like, ‘I told everybody,’” Robinson said. “I spoke it the whole season and I believed it and it became so. I looked at my dad and I pointed at him.
“Me and my dad talk almost every day. He’s like my best friend.”
Robinson’s dad, Vasil, is an assistant coach at H-F and has been Robinson’s biggest mentor throughout his career.
I’ve seen Vasil let his emotions show many times following wins and losses by Vincent and his brothers.
So, what was the national championship celebration like?
Mount Carmel’s Sergio Lemley, left, and Homewood-Flossmoor’s Vincent Robinson battle for the 126-pound state title in Class 3A at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday, Feb. 19 2022. (H. Rick Bamman / Daily Southtown)
“He had a lesser reaction than what I thought,” Robinson said. “I thought he was going to go a little crazy. I rewatched it and I saw he jumped up really quick. I’ve never seen him jump up that quick.
“But he didn’t really go too crazy because he always knew I could do it.”
And so did Vincent, who never lost hope after falling just short again and again in high school.
Those setbacks make this victory even better.
“I think that does make it sweeter,” he said. “You know I know how it feels to lose and how it feels to come up short in those big matches. It wasn’t on my mind a lot at the national tournament, but it definitely crossed my mind.
“It was one of those mindsets like, ‘I’m tired of having that second-place feeling and coming up short.’ I said, ‘I didn’t come this far just to get second again.’”
Robinson also overcame some injury issues on his way to the top. He redshirted last season following knee surgery. This winter, he suffered a torn meniscus in his knee in December and had to have another surgery, sidelining him for another month.
“It had its ups and downs,” Robinson said. “I think the surgery helped my defense a little bit more, knowing I had to keep people off my leg because I didn’t want to hurt my knee.
“Ultimately, I think it made me better.”
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Vincent Robinson, right, takes down Lincoln-Way East’s Connor Koehler at 126 pounds during the Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)
Every year, the state wrestling meet is one of the most emotional days of the year.
At every state event, there are teams that fall just short of making their dreams come true. But there’s nothing quite like the heartbreak of losing a one-on-one state championship match.
Having seen Robinson’s disappointment up close, I’m thrilled to see him finally get his championship.
And there’s more to come.
Robinson said he took a week off after nationals but is now back to work.
“I just feel like I’m ready to go get another one,” he said. “It’s kind of like my first time really being at the top. I want to see how it feels to be the man and now they’ve got to come get me.
“If you want me, come get me.”
I hope Robinson savors that feeling of being “the man.” He’s certainly earned it.
