Robert Howard (wrestler, born 2002)

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Robert Howard (born March 1, 2002) is an American former freestyle and folkstyle wrestler from Cranford, New Jersey. He is best known for winning the gold medal in freestyle at 55 kg at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics and for competing as a cadet world team member three times. He later wrestled for the Penn State Nittany Lions in college and trained with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

Folkstyle career:
Howard wrestled for Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey. He served as team captain and earned four varsity letters. He finished his high school career with a 133-10 record, won two New Jersey state titles, reached the finals four times, and helped Bergen Catholic win three team state championships.

College career:
Howard committed to Penn State, joining the Penn State Nittany Lions to wrestle under coach Cael Sanderson. As a freshman in the 2020–2021 season, he competed at 125 pounds and posted a 7-6 record. He participated in the 2021 NCAA Division I Championships. He redshirted the 2021–22 season and missed the 2022–23 season due to knee surgery.

Freestyle career:
As a cadet, Howard helped the United States by earning spots on three Cadet World Teams from 2017 to 2019, placing as high as fifth at the Cadet World Championships. His standout international result came in 2018 when he won the Youth Olympic gold medal at 55 kilograms.

Personal:
Born in Cranford, New Jersey, Howard competed for the United States in freestyle and folkstyle wrestling, later training with the Penn State program and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.