McKinley Robbins on signing day with Oregon State

A Letter of Intent to attend Oregon State University and wrestle for the Beavers was signed by McKinley Robbins of rural Scranton on Thursday. He announced late last month he would be moving to Corvalis and wrestle in the PAC 12 Conference, which has six wrestling programs.

The Greene County senior signing marked the first highly recruited Division I NCAA wrestler from here in some time. The son of Justin and Lacie Robbins, McKinley enters his last season of high school wrestling with a 116-6 varsity record, a 2021 Class 2A State Championship, and State runner-up finishes in 2020 and ’22. Robbins wrestles for Sebolt Wrestling Academy in Jefferson coached by TJ Sebolt. The Rams’ high school head coach is Zach Beekman. Robbins is expected to wrestle for the Rams at 138 lbs. this season, and is projected in college at 141 or 149.

Robbins already is in rarified air when it comes to the Jefferson-based wrestling program with so many program firsts or program records. He’s on pace to become the program’s all-time wins leader and could finish his high school career with the highest winning percentage any Ram varsity wrestler has ever had.

Fellow senior Kale Petersen is also a DI wrestling recruit and a Sebolt Academy wrestler. He told Raccoon Valley Radio in October he hopes to announce his college choice before the high school season begins. Practice starts this Monday and the first meet is Nov. 29 for the Rams.