Clayton French knows what makes Kenny Robertson a strong wrestler.

“Kenny has a killer instinct and enjoys hurting his opponents,” said French, Eastern’s assistant wrestling coach. “(Kenny) has this spirit that you can’t teach to anyone and doesn’t hold back.”

Robertson is coming into his final year of wrestling for Eastern and is anything but normal. Coming off his 2005-2006 season, he just missed being an All-American.

Unfortunately, he anticipation for Robertson to try and improve on his 28-9 record last season and 3-2 finish at the NCAA Wrestling Championships took a hit when he tore his ACL in the off-season.

Robertson expects to be back at the end of December for the Midlands Tournament at Northwestern.

Robertson has been wrestling since he was four-and-a-half years old. Sacrifices had to be made in order for him to wrestle, but those sacrifices are expendable because he wants to be All-American more than anything, he said.

“Going out partying and doing the college thing” is what he doesn’t get to do because of his commitments,” Robertson said.

He is far more interested in being an All-American than going out and living the stereotypical college lifestyle.

Robertson wrestles in the 174-pound weight class and must constantly maintain his weight.

“The first couple weeks (of dieting) are the hardest,” Robertson said. “After that it just comes down to a science.”

And the science of being successful on the mat is something that Robertson has perfected since arriving at Eastern.

“(Kenny) has had a steady progression since when he first got here,” head coach Ralph McClausland said. “Technically, emotionally and physically. He is tenacious on the mat from start to finish. You never see him give up and throw in the towel.”

After the season is done, Robertson is not really sure of his future. There are a couple of possibilities that he is looking into.

“Coaching here at Eastern while I’m in grad school is something I’m looking into,” Robertson said. “I’m really not sure what I’ll be doing after this year right now.”

Robertson wrestles a non-traditional style.

“I wrestle a ‘funk’ style of wrestling,” he said. ” ‘Funk’ involves more flopping around and tangling up between your opponent. It kind of looks like a pretzel when in action. It can be more painful to your opponent if put into the right position. (Coach McCausland) and I will be tangled up in these positions during practice and just start laughing because of how much it hurts.”

Win or lose, Robertson has had quite a career at Eastern. Every year he has improved.

“I do what I have to do to win,” he said. “That has carried over into my everyday life and everyday situations.”