At the 1956 NCAA tournament Simon Roberts broke new ground in the college wrestling world.

As a junior, competing at the 147-pound weight class for the University of Iowa, Roberts became the first Black wrestler to win an NCAA title, after finishing second at the Big Ten Conference tournament. Entering the tournament seeded sixth, Roberts upset the second- and fourth-seeded wrestlers on his way to a hard-fought championship victory. He returned in 1958 and won the Big Ten title and finished with a career record of 62-8-4.

A native of Davenport, Iowa, Roberts was also the first Black wrestler to win an individual state title in Iowa. He was a state champion in 1954 at 133 pounds. That same year he was also the YMCA Invitational champion. He was a sectional district champion in 1953 and 1954 and finished with a career prep record of 43-6-3.

Roberts coached wrestling at Alleman High School in Rock Island, Illinois from 1966-70. He became the director of adult basic education at Black Hawk College in Moline, Illinois in 1973.

He also returned to college and earned his master's degree in adult continuing education in 1981.

Roberts was active in numerous public service organizations, including alcohol and drug abuse programs in the Davenport area.

He is retired from a long career in education and lives in Los Angeles.

He was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1988.