Homewood-Flossmoor’s Chazz Robinson never has to look very far when he needs advice.
The junior wrestler has a private support network from three older brothers, including Vincent, the defending Division I national champion at 125 pounds for NC State.
Another brother, Jaydon, is a redshirt freshman wrestler for NC State. Travis Ford-Melton, the oldest brother, wrestled at Purdue.
“Having watched my brothers when I was younger and then they worked with me, they told me I’d be the best if I kept working,” Chazz said. “They looked at what I did wrong and what I did right.”
Their father, Vasil, is an assistant coach with the Vikings, which provides a thread.
”The three Robinson brothers are all different in their own way, but Chazz is the most focused for me,” H-F coach Jim Sokoloski said. “He films every match and watches them as soon as he’s done and is constantly looking for ways to get better.
“He’s very humble and hungry to be great.”
Jaydon, known in the family as JJ, has been protector, partner and teacher for his brother.
“I’ve been giving Chazz some stuff to help with his leg defense and attacks,” Jaydon said. “When he gets the gist of it, he will be one of the top kids in the country.
“When he comes to NC State, he’s going to make his name known like Vincent and what I’m trying to do.”
The quest to make his own mark is in full bloom for Chazz. He went 41-6 last season and finished third in the Class 3A individual state meet at 120 pounds.
Toggling between 120 and 126 this winter as a junior, Robinson (27-4) is undefeated against Illinois competition. He won by medical forfeit Saturday in the 126-pound championship match of the SouthWest Suburban Conference Meet.
Ranked No. 2 in Class 3A at 120 by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association website, Robinson is set to compete at 126 on Saturday when regionals begin.
Styles make the wrestlers, and Robinson is animated by propulsive speed and athleticism. He’s like a boxer who simply overwhelms with actions and ability to simultaneously attack or counter.
“I love to wrestle very fast and I love to use my time and speed to get into my hand fights very quickly,” Robinson said. “I love getting to my speed.
“I’m a fast type of guy and use that to get to the outside for sweeps or double leg, which is my main shot.”
Success has been a constant in his young life, but Robinson’s semifinal loss by technical fall last winter to eventual state champion Dom Munaretto of St. Charles East was humbling.
He set out to immediately change the outcome.
“I just had to get back in the lab after that loss and keep getting better,” Robinson said. “I had to fight back for the next best thing. I won the third-place match and I kept training every day.
“Now, I’m working twice as hard.”
As much as the sport consumes him, Chazz loves to get away from the mat, hanging out with friends, playing pickup basketball or spending time with his younger sister, a dancer.
“Their family eats, sleeps and breathes wrestling,” Sokoloski said. “Their father likes to say hard work works.”
And Chazz Robinson, who has put in that hard work, is more than ready for his state playoffs to begin Saturday at the Class 3A Rich Township Regional.
“My coach always tells me just go and have fun and never worry about the score,” Chazz said. “None of my brothers ever won a state championship as a junior.
“I’m trying to be the first Robinson to win two.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.