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04/23/2020 12:00 AMAJ Robinson began his wrestling career competing at Walsh Intermediate School with coach Tom Ermini. When he entered Branford High School, AJ took the techniques that he learned at Walsh and applied them to the varsity mat, becoming a better wrestler and a vital member of the Hornets.
This past season, AJ advanced to the quarterfinals of the State Open after earning third place in the 160-pound weight class at the Class M State Championship. He also served as a junior captain who provided exemplary leadership for Branford.
“I was very proud of how I did this season,” says AJ. “I started in the 170-pound division, and I was doing pretty good in that, but I realized I was giving up a lot of weight. I chose to cut down to 160, and being around other guys around the same weight as me helped me have a successful season.”
AJ earned the first medal of his career by finishing third in the 160-pound division at the Class M meet. He won his first two bouts via pinfall before losing in the semifinal round. AJ then made his way through the consolation bracket, pinning Gavin White of Ellis Tech at the 4:25 mark of the final to take third place.
“Placing at states has always been a big dream of mine. I was able to do it in 8th grade and, when I got to high school, I realized how different and competitive it was. It always seemed like it would just be a dream,” AJ says. “When I was able to place, it meant the world to me. I was so proud of myself. I knew the hard work I put in the offseason was going to pay off.”
AJ went on to wrestle at the State Open for the first time in his career, notching pinfall victories over his first two opponents. Even though AJ lost in the quarterfinals, he viewed his experience at the Open as an opportunity to see just how much he’s improved.
“Coming into the State Open, I knew I was going to have to wrestle some people I’ve already wrestled. I knew I had what it took to beat them,” says AJ. “Even if I was friends with a few of them, which I was, I knew I would still have to beat them and try my hardest. I couldn’t have expected to do as well as I did. I was very happy with myself and how I did.”
Head Coach Jesse Hurlburt has seen AJ make immense progress on the mat during the past three years. Hurlburt says that AJ always keeps competing and refuses to quit, even when he’s facing a big deficit. Early in the season, AJ was taking on Chino Grant of New Haven and fell into a 12-2 hole. Coach Hurlburt watched as AJ battled back from the brink of defeat to win by pin on a lateral drop during the third period.
“His first two years of high school, AJ took his lumps against upperclassmen who may have had more experience than him. He came in this season with an, ‘I’m not going to take any crap,’ attitude. He was ready to go at anybody he was going to wrestle,” Hurlburt says. “There were times this season where he was losing matches by a pretty big margin, and he ended up coming out on top because of that not-willing-to-stop mentality. It’s something you can’t teach.”
AJ was determined to become one of the Hornets’ top wrestlers in his junior season. He also became one of Branford’s captains, joining seniors Cody McHenry and Minsok Lee, along with fellow junior Justin Osler in that role. AJ tried to lead the team’s younger wrestlers through his actions and words.
“Being named captain for me was incredibly humbling. It made me realize that, disregarding my skill, the coaches thought I was a very good leader. It meant a lot,” AJ says. “Being a leader all season, being able to teach my teammates, it made me a better wrestler. I was able to grow myself and others.”
AJ likes to use the three-quarter nelson when he’s on the mat. It’s a maneuver that AJ learned at Walsh and continues to use in almost all of his matches. AJ says that he learned about 90 percent of his offensive moves while competing for the Walsh wrestling team.
“The basics for me just work. They’re very reliable,” says AJ. “The fact that I’ve been practicing it since 6th grade makes it even better. It just really works for me.”
Looking toward his senior year, AJ wants to take first place at both the SCC Championship and the Class M State Championship, in addition to placing at the State Open. Looking back at his career so far, AJ appreciates how wrestling has shaped him as both an athlete and a young adult.
“For me, being a wrestler is a lot different than other sports. You have to have something different about you,” AJ says. “Wrestling is very intense, and that’s how I’d describe myself as a wrestler. Wrestling helps me in school and helps me be a better person.”