Landon Robideau Set to Conclude Busy ‘Offseason’ with Trip to U20 World Championships

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STILLWATER — After winning a national championship in a tough bracket as a true freshman, Landon Robideau hasn’t necessarily slowed down.

Robideau is set to compete at the U20 World Championships next week in Slovakia, with his 70 kg weight class wrestling next Saturday (Aug. 22) and Sunday (Aug. 23).

To get there, Robideau won the U20 U.S. Open bracket in April, the month after getting his hand raised at the NCAA Championships. He then beat top Class of 2027 prospect Melvin Miller two matches to none in May at the U20 World Team Trials.

“I think he’s definitely making jumps,” said OSU coach David Taylor of Robideau’s offseason. “He’s done a good job. Like, he was very driven this year when the season was over. Like, he was ready for what was coming next. That’s a great sign. Not a surprise. Landon’s a pretty unique kid.”

Robideau was dominant in his U20 worlds qualification. At the U.S. Open, he outscored his opponents a combined 70-8. Then at the trials, Robideau’s two matches against Miller ended a combined 17-0.

For good measure, Robideau also entered the Senior World Team earlier in May. There, Robideau beat former Cowboy and U23 World Team Trials champ Jordan Williams twice (combined score of 14-0) and four-time NCAA qualifier Ian Parker.

Robideau’s lone loss at that event came to 2023 World Champion, three-time NCAA champion and 2024 Olympian Zain Retherford by a score of 3-2. Retherford would go on to win at Final X and will again represent the United States at the Senior World Championships.

“He wrestled really well at the senior level,” Taylor said. “I mean, I think Zain’s a really tough opponent, and I think Landon was right there. It’s one of those situations I think it was just an experience deal, where Zain got put on the clock and scored or scored right before he got put on the clock — right around that time that kind of made that match, it went from it being tied on criteria to being down 3-0.

“Good experience for him. Obviously this 20-and-under World Championship for him here in two weeks will be another great experience for him. He’s expecting to go there and kick some butt.”

Taylor and Co. will be smart in terms of managing all of Robideau’s mat time, but with someone as driven as Robideau seems to be, he’ll likely be on to the next thing — which is chasing a second NCAA championship — after his trip to Slovakia.

“That’s the name of the game,” Taylor said. “I think one of the things with our program we talk about is like, man, winning one time is not a goal for anybody here. Like, we want to continue to set ourselves up for continued success. I think as soon as these guys, the mentality is as soon as that tournament was over, you’re instantly getting ready for the next thing.

“We don’t really have the luxury of sitting around and waiting and thinking about how cool last year was. We’re on to the next year and how we can keep getting better and onto the next tournament. So, he definitely has that philosophy, and he’s definitely improved this summer.”