Former OSU Wrestler Becomes Tulsa County Prosecutor

“You don’t win all the time, and when you don’t, it’s humbling,” said former wrestler Todd Chesbro.

The newest prosecutor in the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office says that’s just one lesson he learned from his wrestling career that will help him in his new job.

Chesbro, a former OSU wrestling all-star, is also Bishop Kelley’s head wrestling coach.

“I’m sure I’ll have to do work at home at night,” said Chesbro.  “Filing charges and going over charges that I didn’t have an opportunity to during the day.”

Chesbro was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State in the 90s, and a wrestling coach at West Point before moving back to Oklahoma in 2002.  Somewhere in there, he also got his law degree.

“That’s always been the dilemma that I’ve had – is that I had to choose one or the other,” said Chesbro.  “And now, I’m being given the opportunity to do both.”

He says he worked for the D.A.’s Office before he opened his private practice 11 years ago.

“I wanted to have some freedom.  That gave me the ability to spend time with my kids,” he said.

Now, he’s back at it – juggling his time between the courthouse and the halls of Bishop Kelley.

He says he’s not worried about managing both jobs.  If anything, he says, his wrestling background has made him more prepared for his job as a prosecutor.

“I think that wrestling is a sport that prepares you for life.  It may be the most demanding sport there is,” said Chesbro.  “They do go hand in hand.  The work ethic you have to have, and you don’t win all the time.  You just don’t.  That’s life.”

Work for Chesbro starts immediately, but he won’t go to trial for the first time until next spring.