"[5], From 1967 to 1970, Gable attended Iowa State University, where he competed in folkstyle wrestling. A few years ago, the Republican Party recruited Gable to run for governor of Iowa. It's all good. His 1970 NCAA finals victory over Dan Gable cemented his place in wrestling history. Let's take a look into the NCAA vault and recap the sequence of events that led to this final collegiate dual and the battle between the Cyclone star and his opponent, Washington's Larry Owings, in 1970. Gable was given a four-minute standing ovation during his introduction as the ceremonies stopped. Referee Pascal Perri described the noise as "comparable to Niagara Falls during the spring thaw.". The match at Northwestern had its impact on both wrestlers. Gable got his rematch against Larry Owings, who handed Gable his only defeat at Iowa State, when he defeated Owings in the 1972 Olympic Trials. From 1976 to 1997, Gable was the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa, where his teams compiled a dual meet record of 355215 and won 15 NCAA Division I titles. He will show up at a practice at a high school just a few miles from where he lives now, and he will stand in front of the teenagers and say, If you can score on me, you can win the state title. Some of the wrestlers will think hes joking. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Gable is in the U.S. Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. Owings, despite a national title and an 87-4 record at Washington (52-1 in dual meets), is not. His intensity only grew when he became coach at Iowa in 1976; Gable was legendary for going to extreme limits to solve a problem. \DP,uaO@LtT H]v[?Nr)|cXB!>Br$<4y3gz 1oZu, FO]+#3* u_i!c+pIf'iwC+)p\G stream With less than a minute remaining, the scoreboard showed Owings leading 9-8, but Gable actually had a 10-9 lead. Owings was very squirmy and hard to control., But Owings recollection, recorded immediately after his great victory, is probably still true to this day: When it was over, I looked at Dan, and he looked like he didnt know what had happened.. The most comprehensive list of wrestling tournaments all in one place. He may have been the only opponent Gable had faced in years who saw him as anything other than invincible. "When I got to the tournament, I still felt fine - that I could win and do everything I thought I could do," Gable said. "There was probably not 10 people in that crowd of 9,000 or so who would have bet on Owings," Oklahoma State Coach Myron Roderick said. He won't allow it. Gable says that the loss was "like a death in the family." The YouTube video cuts to black. Inducted into University of Washington Athletic Hall of Fame. Considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Gable is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, a world gold medalist, and an Olympic gold medalist. 13-11. Olympic Champion. Despite leading Iowa to 15 team championships and cementing his legacy as one of the best leaders in the sport, he still thinks about Larry Owings. It's also a worthwhile read to find out more about Owings, who was an interesting figure in his own right. Pac-8 Champion and three-time NCAA finalist. From inside his cabin Gable looks out onto the night fast approaching. Michael Jordan is the Dan Gable of basketball, a sportswriter once said. Jean made it out just in time; he won the match, and the national title. They made up songs about me and teased me unmercifully.. Lately hes been calling around -- to the University of Washington, to the Wrestling Hall of Fame in Iowa named after the loser of the match, to ABC, which was there to broadcast the event -- to see if anyone can send him a DVD, but no one seems to have one. Indeed, from a family of state champion wrestlers, Larry wound up as the best of the bunch, winning the 136-pound crown in 1967 and 141 in 1968. One day his mother finally showed up at his door and when she saw Dan, she slapped him across the face, walked away, and made the one and a half hour drive back to Waterloo. Theyre waiting for you to lift your head. Gable did -- and the cheering finally stopped. "But I was distracted by Larry Owings. It was a good match, wasnt it? he says. Gable, who admitted he was uncharacteristically worn down as the match dragged on, remembered telling himself, "Don't get caught in the cradle. Results Placement Matches (16 Man) Team. I told him I used to wrestle in North Dakota, won a state championship in 1987. Mike Gerald, who now lives in Austin, Texas, wrote a book on Owings when the two became acquainted in Oregon. Dan Gable has not forgotten about that night in 1970. As painful as the experience was, looking back, he believes it may have helped toughen him up. "It was an indication," Gerald said, "that Gable was taking him real seriously. Perri brought the two wrestlers back with 17 seconds left for a final grab-and-hold. WA Death Notices. No, with his movie star looks and charisma, and a physique that would make Chris Hemsworth jealous, he was legitimately world famous. They were on their first date when Owings asked if she was into sports. [8], From 1976 to 1997, Gable was the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa. Grant went up, Owings went. The line Gable had to recite was simple: Hi, Im Dan Gable. Licensed Building Contractor. Where do you go from there? Owings remained one of the top wrestlers in the country, but as disappointments mounted -- he finished second in the NCAA championships in 1971 and 72 -- Owings began to feel like his national championship win was a curse. When his teammates passed him in the tunnels they never expected a hello. Im emotional about it because theres still a lot of meaning Gable told, How Dan Gable coached Iowa to 15 team titles, The complete history of one of the greatest college wrestlers, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Larry was tough. Yeah, college basketball is ready for March. He was interviewed by a Chicago newspaper about his chances against the invincible one, and Owings didn't demur. Gable remembers the moment the seed of doubt was planted entering the 1970 national championships at Northwestern Universitys McGaw Hall. Larry Owens (born January 8, 1983) is an American professional basketball player. That loss is a key part of the creation story for the Dan Gable myth. He Googles his name on the iPad. Both wrestlers advanced through the tournament by pinning each of their opponents. If so, he must have had to have gone 142 for his qualifying tournament before the Big Dance, right? The two met in the finals of the 1970 NCAA wrestling championship. At the 1972 Games, in particular, Gable won all six of his matches without giving up a point. I was almost embarrassed to have won, he says. Michael Jordan is the Dan Gable of basketball. Join Facebook to connect with Larry Owings and others you may know. Owings was a sophomore at the University of Washington, who had dropped two weight classes (from 158 to 142) just to get a shot at the legend. The Cyclone star did rack up his time in control and actively worked for the turn with an arm bar before resetting and continuing to ride. Yes, Dan Gable -- the most famous wrestler and most decorated coach in the history of the sport, the volcanic legend who was so combustible as a coach at Iowa that after losses hed return home and punch holes into his young daughters bedroom doors -- has admitted that he has become more emotional these last few years, someone who finds himself now tearing up at the end of old movies. Gable didnt feel redemption or justice, only a heavy weight lifted: in an unexpected moment of clarity, he realized that all these years hes somehow been partly blaming himself for her death. Larry Owings, on the other hand, returned to Oregon, and faded into obscurity, at least as far as the wrestling world was concerned. "I was almost embarrassed to have won," he says. All Rights Reserved. "I don't think he's out of my head even today," Gable said recently. The atmosphere was electric, though what everyone had expected -- what ABC had come for -- was a coronation, not a competition. There is, however, still the open wound from 1970. It's hard to win a third NCAA title. It was one of the most emotional scenes I can ever remember.". "I've never wrestled after you've lost a match, and I'm not going to do it now." USWF Greco-Roman and freestyle champion and Outstanding Wrestler. He coached for a while, then settled into obscurity of teaching and administrating. The Cyclone collected himself after the takedown, taking a timeout to adjust his contact lens before going back to the middle. He went on to the sensational international and Olympic career that has already been described. During the weigh-in, an ABC reporter asked, Larry, why, particularly with such a successful sophomore season, would you drop a weight class that will be impossible to win because of Gables presence? Owings glared at the interviewer and said, Ill beat him.. He noticed that the UW wrestler was making "all kinds of mistakes but still ended up pinning his opponent." He has one VHS cassette of the broadcast but the tape is the only copy of the match hes ever owned, so worn that hes afraid that if he runs it in the VCR one more time the tape will be ruined forever. Now nearly 70 but still strong as an ox, Owings is not one to use a blackboard to teach his wrestlers how to do a takedown. Gables obsession with preparation and routine was already legendary; the stories are almost outlandish -- but they are all true. He wasn't stalling on top, but he wasn't earning any additional points either. Not in Dan Gable's mind, not in this lifetime. No, she says, disbelieving. He won every college match before dropping his last match in a stunning 13-11 loss to Washington's Larry Owings in the 142-pound finals in 1970. It has to be in the top five here. That's what I thought. In fact, Gable would emerge from the Owings match stronger, more determined. As Sports Illustrated reported in its coverage of the 1970 NCAA's, "Larry Owings was far more accomplished than most people realized.". A few years ago, at a wrestling banquet, Les Anderson, a former assistant coach at Iowa State, pulled his former protg aside, and said, Gable, I just want to apologize for that last match. A sophomore had beaten the giant. . Gable is 65 now, still works out every day on the elliptical and lifting his old high school weights, but lately hes been feeling his body crumbling; he walks with a limp, the result of eight knee surgeries and four hip replacements. He also helped the Cyclones to a team title the year of his loss, scoring enough team points to help them edge out Michigan State by over ten points. Leading 7-2, Owings continued to ride Gable before Gable notched a reversal and put himself back on track with a 7-4 score. "After that match, it took me a long time to really admit a lot of things," Gable said. I remember asking him what he did in Colorado. In the days afterward he shut himself from the world. Thats the way Owings prefers it. The message was that his talent at wrestling, and his improbable victory over Dan Gable, had happened for a reason. His physical makeup was legendary, his results extraordinary. I had it, says Gable. Graduated from Canby High School where he was a two-time OSAA champion. He also has a museum named for him in his hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, part of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. How Tall Is Dan Gable? From 117-0 to 117-1. He would drop down two weight classes, from 158 to 142, just to have a shot at Gable at the NCAAs. Don't get caught in the cradle." Looking at the photo now, Gable says, I felt -- I feel -- like I let everyone down. After Gable received his second place trophy, there was a loud ovation in the hall that stretched on for minutes, until one of Gables teammates approached him and said, Gable, lift up your head. Most have never heard of Larry Owings. A stalemate brought the wrestlers back to the center, but, within seconds, the match was over. He was a legend in his home state and across the country with his work ethic and drive to succeed in wrestling. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Dan Gable was and is a god among men in the world of amateur wrestling. I got bumped down a seed at Nationals in 72 because the winner of the regionals 1 weight above me dropped down for Nationals. Larry Owings Invitational detail view. This was where Owings wanted to be, on the mat in the middle of the action. It was the greatest wrestling match of all-time. Many who were there that day use the same words to describe the strange aftermath: it was like a bomb went off. He had two points in riding time that would be rewarded at the end by Perri. He walked over and saw his teammate Chuck Jean there. The most dramatic moment came in the final 30 seconds, with Gable technically in the lead although the scoreboard showed otherwise, when Owings slipped underneath his arms for a brilliantly executed leg sweep that dropped Gable to the mat for the winning points. It was my moms worst fear. Feeling stripped of his powers after his loss, Gable was finding out what it was like to be human. He would mow the lawn of his parents home in Waterloo, on a 100-degree Iowa summer day with double layers of jogging pants to burn calories. He coached 152 all-Americans, 45 national champions, 106 Big Ten Champions and 12 Olympians, including eight medalists. He was going for his third title at 142 pounds, and virtually everyone thought he was a lock. What are you doing? Darrell Keller, Oklahoma State DEC Larry Owings, Washington, 16-12 150 lbs Stan Dziedzic, Slippery Rock DEC Jay Arneson, Oklahoma . Yes. It's famous in part because of . "I knew who he was," Owings said, somewhat disingenuously. National Champion. Owings had a not-so-successful start; nicknamed Porky, Owings lost all eight of his matches in his first year in junior varsity competition at Canby High, wrestling for coach Larry Wright. My nickname was Porky. Everyone called me that, even my teachers at school. The Hawkeyes can still earn a double bye, but a lot hinges on the trip to Indiana. "He was in excellent condition. This was Owings' opportunity, the fateful moment when his never-used leg sweep caught Gable by surprise. Canby Then is brought to you by Retro Revival. 6LkY/XL6dU1unSo^lR;frWn*"jlj,GW{jEvk\mF4?QxIgT ,z-&T($!a-!68xk I enjoyed your article and with no intention of being critical. The OFFICIAL Facebook site of Western Australia's premiere Pro Wrestling organisation - EPW Perth. Larry Owings, The Man Who Beat Gable, What happened to Larry Owings? Find the cost, maps, directions, flyer and registration details all in one location. Now hes fighting for it to be reinstated beyond 2020. The crowd edged forward. World Champion", "Trump honors legendary Iowa wrestler Gable at White House", "Dan Gable among speakers discussing victims' rights", "Himself the victim of a violent tragedy, Gable says loss can result in some good", "Bio: Dan Gable 15 National Championships. 4 0 obj National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award. Looks like Owings wrestled at 142 the entire season. 2023 National Wrestling Hall Of Fame. It was around the time I turned 50, and maybe that has something to do with it: I realized that I had a talent, and whats the point of denying that I had that talent? "Owings was very squirmy and hard to control.. Gable won, easily, but Owings scored some points and even put the champ on his back one time. If there was one code Owings lived by then, it was a desire to have a second chance against anyone who had beaten him. Only one man who ever lived can say he beat Dan Gable, and that man is 1968 Canby Union High School grad Larry Owings. Overall Gable had lost just four matchesall of them while wrestling under unfamiliar international freestyle rules and in competitions in which he, though a promising youngster, clearly had been in over his head. %PDF-1.4 When he was 15 years old, a teenager from his neighborhood raped and murdered Gable's 19-year-old sister. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. It doesn't matter that it's been 30 years. Later, over beers at a local bar, when hes asked how often he thinks about his loss in the 1970 NCAA wrestling national championships, he will say, without a beat, Everyday. His wife, Kathy, will turn to him and look as if she suddenly doesnt know this man shes been married to for 40 years. Highlights of his career include gold medals at the 1971 Tbilisi Tournament, the 1971 world championships, and the 1972 Olympic Games. Come watch me next week as I finish my career 182-0." (Refresh the page to see latest Notices) Monday February 27, 2023. Not only did Owings show incredible confidence in the style he wrestled Gable, he was shrewd in moving down a weight class and avoiding the one wrestler who beat him that season: Mike Grant of Oklahoma. After returning to Ames the next day, the first thing he did was ask teammates to wrestle him. Facebook gives people the power to. Just sitting here, talking about it it hurts. In this conversation, we talk about Owings' childhood, high school career, and the match with Gable. The promo never ran. He respected his pinning ability.". Email: dgmstaff@nwhof.org. Owings went to work on top, forcing Gable into a passive position and generating a stall call against the Cyclone for a point. Owings wore a black singlet with white trim, while Gable was in cardinal and gold. More than any other sport, wrestling is rooted in self-belief and desire: being big, strong, fast and talented can take you only so far; in the end, it is about endurance, stamina, conviction. I told him he had to get out there." The night before the start of the tournament, a teammate asked if hed seen the front page of the Chicago Tribune sports section. His days now are spent talking -- talking on stages and in boardrooms across the country on the speaking circuit; talking to millionaires over dinners to raise money for a sport hes trying to save; talking to strangers who still worship him like a god -- here in Iowa there are, at latest count, three bronze statues of him in the state. So I went up to 149, he says, and I told myself that hed beat me, and everybody will leave me alone. It was not a contest: Gable won 7-1. Owings was the first UW wrestler to win an NCAA title, but what mattered was that he had upset a man the Russians reverently called "The Machine," a man who had won 181 straight matches, 108 by pins. Once the period began, it was Owings on top, temporarily, before Gable notched a reversal to tie the score at 8-8 with just over 1:45 to go in the third. His 1970 NCAA finals victory over Dan Gable cemented his place in wrestling history. In 1966, he entered Iowa State, 110 miles away in Ames. The fans, said Roderick, "were in shock, as well as excited seeing history. 1971 NCAA University Division Wrestling Championships; Tournament information; Sport: College wrestling: Location: Auburn, Alabama: Dates: March 25, 1971-March 27, 1971: Host(s) Auburn University: . Gambling problem? He loved to golf with his wife, had a strong handshake with Popeye forearms. If you need a little weekend reading, friends, you could do worse -- a lot worse -- thanthis compelling profile by Sports Illustrated's Albert Chen on Dan Gable and Larry Owings, two men whose histories are inextricably intertwined. WATCH "Larry Owings Documentary (The Man Who Beat Dan . Coached high school wrestling in Washington (Seattle) and Oregon (Clackamas CC, Oregon City, Molalla, Canby and Woodburn) for over 25 years. Larry Owings Fall 6:12 Leandro Torres 4-3 Bruce Burnett 11-7 Paul Brodmerkel 6-2 Bob Bergen 15-6 Rob Brown 6-4 Larry Owings Fall 1:36 Leandro Torres 4-3 Bob Bergen 3-2 Larry Owings 17-2 Leandro Torres 4-1 Darrell Keller 16-12 142 Weight Class Larry Owings 5-2 Clay Jester, Massachusetts James Guizzotti, Ashland [7] Doug Moses, Iowa State Bye Never wrestled after you 've lost a match, it took me a time. Who saw him as anything other than invincible ; childhood, High school he! That match, it took me a long time to really admit lot. 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