A high school wrestling match consists of three two-minute periods, with overtime periods of one minute each if necessary. In that short timespan, dreams are realized and champions are made in front of a roaring crowd, with the raising of a victor’s arm.

Wrestling referee Kyle Roberts understands the making of that emotional moment and what it means to the champion, the coaches and the crowd. He feels it too, because he’s been there and done it all. 

“That’s the deciding moment, that arm raise,” he said. “When I raise an arm, I lead the wrestler around, turn him around so that everybody can see and share in it,” he said. “It’s more intense than possibly any other winning moment in any sport, because it’s such a personal thing.”

It started in kindergarten

These days, Roberts is most likely seen at a wrestling tournament as the one wearing stripes. But his involvement in the sport began as a participant in kindergarten.

“Wrestling has been a major part of my life for a long time,” he said. “I started wrestling in 1981 as a kindergartener. 

“Kids wrestling clubs were just getting formed back in those days, Federation wrestling at Lincoln Elementary in Great Bend.

“The only thing I knew going in was what I saw on TV,” he said. “I went to practice expecting ring ropes. It was far from it.”

Wrestling, like track and field, is both an individual and team sport. “Not only can you place as an individual in your weight bracket, but the team can place as well.

“It brings everybody in, rallying around an individual and cheering for a team. It can get pretty intense and loud,” he said.

Roberts advanced from the kids’ club into the high school ranks. He captured a state title wrestling at 103 pounds in 1993, and was a three-time state place-winner before graduating in 1995.

He was recruited to wrestle in college, first at the University of Central Missouri and later at Fort Hays State, but a shoulder injury and the following surgery ended his collegiate career.

Undaunted, he remained connected with the sport whenever and wherever he could. He has served as president of the Great Bend, Hoisington and Topeka Tornado wrestling clubs.

He’s coached wrestling at Hoisington High School and Hoisington Middle School. He’s been awarded state honors for USAWKS District Person, State Person, District Official and State Official of the Year. 

And he has served as referee at several levels of competition, with a decades-long career at the high school state level.

“About the only time I missed a state tournament was the 2021-2022 season,” he said.

For good reason. That year, he ignited the first-ever wrestling program at Ellinwood High School. Starting out with 20 wrestlers, both boys and girls, he finished that inaugural season with a state qualifier.

“They had no experience but they had heart and they had courage,” he noted.

Business ventures

Even Roberts’ business ventures have a competitive ring.

Since 2009, his Champion Service LLC features his services as a Certified Master Inspector of a residence,  a requirement for real estate transactions, from roof to basement crawl space, with everything in between.

“See a need, fill a need,” he said. “That has kept me going in everything I do.”

On the mat

In the meantime, he will most likely be on or near the wrestling mat for as long as he can. “There is still a need for referees, there aren’t as many as they could be. I like to see the younger folks getting a chance to be a referee. It brings back memories, you know, from the time you were competing. It’s what keeps a lot of us (referees) in the sport, and the relationships that can be built.

“I will be doing it as long as my body will let me, you have to be pretty active. I’ve seen referees that are in their 60s and 70s, so if they can do it, I’ll believe that I can do it, too.” 

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