Thats the way Owings prefers it. After returning to Ames the next day, the first thing he did was ask teammates to wrestle him. Gable won 13-4 and went on; Owings never forgot. He was U.S. Olympic freestyle coach in 1980, 1984, and 2000. Before the match, Gable had recorded a promo for ABC saying, Hi, Im Dan Gable. "It's the biggest upset ever in the sport, and it's a fascinating story. 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. While Gable's record that season was 31-0, with five straight pins in the 1970 NCAA tourney, Owings was 32-1, and had four pins entering . Theyre waiting for you to lift your head. Gable did -- and the cheering finally stopped. Owings had one more thing Gable didn't have - implacability. Next, well bring you the story of the Canby cowboy who became the best bronc rider in the country at the age of 23. Larry took the match to him.". How about Andy Daniels beating John Azevedo or Gary Barton winning the tournament in1972. The move was so fast that Perri stopped the match and walked to the scorers table to ensure that the proper points were awarded. 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. Gable was heartbroken. 0@f@b'>dnk;k2 E\ 5EFsmdm9_-3uyKfmp}Mv$F+\ 8PBMvZ4li-miLbccx*kj3 j CL# ^3>=@aW6F(qmDCL4*@u|hw-fTy-[pal{5@V 08Nl+FNt@@*eF$~1H*UXj1(B`xfLE!HsZm!| #SwimWithTheCurrent. The regular season winds downs on the final Sunday before conference tournaments. In a corner of the room theres a photo of Gable on the podium after the Owings match, a close black and white shot of his face with tears in his eyes. He had a chance to face Owings again three weeks later, then again seven months later, but Owings lost in the preliminary round. "[5], From 1967 to 1970, Gable attended Iowa State University, where he competed in folkstyle wrestling. 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. Owings watches the video as Perri lifts his arm and Gable staggers away. 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. Minn. Owings was wrestling best at 136.5 . Owings had his first chance at the 1969 NCAA Championships but, as he would later regret, decided to wrestle at 130 pounds, avoiding Gable's 137-pound class. Larry Owings - Washington (1969 - 1972) 1-time NCAA Champion High School: Canby, Oregon Gable says that the loss was like a death in the family. It just about killed my parents, he says. An inspiring legend in his home state and as well as the country due to his work ethic and drive to succeed in wrestling, Gable won national titles in 1968 and 1969 at 130 and 137 pounds. Come watch me next week as I finish my career 182-0." Stillwater, OK 74075 Owings nearly escaped, but Gabled rolled him around and nearly put him on his back before Owings persistence paid off and he earned the escape point. He wasn't scared and had nothing to lose. Wrestling fans attending the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio, March 15-17, will have the chance to relive arguably the most talked about wrestling match of all time the Larry Owings' upset of undefeated two-time NCAA champion Dan Gable in the 1970 NCAA finals. It is the match that Dan Gable will say turned him into a great wrestler -- and yet he still has trouble bringing himself to talk about it. When Larry was on his high school team, the coach used to joke that he was so slow that theyd have to drive pegs into the mat to see if hes still moving. But in the final 30 seconds of a close, intense, exhausting match, Owings slipped underneath Gable's arms for a leg lift or sweep, putting the erstwhile invincible Gable on his back for the winning points. 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. If we would have tied and there was an overtime, I dont think I would have won, he says. "GABLE FALLS!" screamed the banner headline in the next day's Des Moines Register. They haven't talked to each other since. 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. "I'm not going to this tournament to be a national champion. Only one man who ever lived can say he beat Dan Gable, and that man is 1968 Canby Union High School grad Larry Owings. I didn't know he passed away in 2013, but that explains the omission of Joseph/Martinez. But I have to admit to this day that match made my career, not only the next two years. What are you doing? I know a good way for a sportsman to get rid of it. Earned bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Washington. There were some things I could have done We just thought you were invincible., Anderson was dying of cancer, and as Gable says, It was like he was unloading a lifelong burden., Where are They Now: Former UConn star Doron Sheffer. "Owings was very squirmy and hard to control.. He would drop down two weight classes, from 158 to 142, just to have a shot at Gable at the NCAAs. 93 talking about this. It would take me years to realize this, but I wouldnt have become great wrestler and a great coach -- a legend in the sport -- without that match. After he left Iowa State, Gable went on to win the 1971 Pan Am games and world championships, he took gold at the Munich Olympics in 1972 without allowing surrendering a single point; he went on to a 21-year coaching career at the University of Iowa, where he led the Hawkeyes to an unprecedented 15 national titles. In the final match of his illustrious career with the Cardinal and Gold, Gable suffered what is considered one of the biggest upset losses in college wrestling history, dropping to Larry Owings of . Im emotional about it because theres still a lot of meaning , Where Are They Now: Catching up with former Cavs guard Craig Ehlo, His voice trails off, and he lifts a hand to dry his eyes; something thats been buried deep is suddenly resurfacing. He was interviewed by a Chicago newspaper about his chances against the invincible one, and Owings didn't demur. Dan Gable height is 5 Feet 9 Inches. 2023 National Wrestling Hall Of Fame. That number 182 would have included Gable's undefeated high school and collegiate career. Every once in a while now Owings will still go to the mat. Inducted into University of Washington Athletic Hall of Fame. Earlier in the day, without any prodding, he brought up the murder of his sister Diane in 1964. 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. Come watch me next week as I finish my career 182-0. Gable kept bungling the lines, and the take took half an hour; by the time he was finished, without having gone through his regular pregame warm-up, every seat in the area was already filled, and the match was about to start. The promo never ran. We got up, and he offered me his hand and we shook. Owings got four points for the move -- two for the takedown, two for exposing Gables shoulders to the mat. However, because of NCAA. It's all good. This was where Owings wanted to be, on the mat in the middle of the action. It's also a worthwhile read to find out more about Owings, who was an interesting figure in his own right. 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. Phone: (405) 377-5243 Iowa State had won the national team championship, but Gable's loss dominated the headlines. Owings at that moment pulled off a move that hed never done in a match: a leg sweep that caught Gable by surprise and dropped him down to the mat -- as Gable fell, he felt like he was going down in slow motion. In the Olympics, he not only won every match, he did so without giving up a single point. Earned bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Washington. The tributes to Dan Gable on the Internet are endless, but time, it seems, has forgotten the one man who beat him. When his teammates passed him in the tunnels they never expected a hello. In fact, Gable would emerge from the Owings match stronger, more determined. Given that Gable -- by his own admission in the piece -- still isn't truly over that loss and that it still lights a fire in him well, I'm gonna say that that loss was perhaps the best thing that ever could have happened to Gable -- and, by extension, Iowa wrestling. He describes Owings as a "Charles Lindbergh persona, quietly confident," who believed he could equal Gable's strength and conditioning. There was a time I wished it never happened, he says. Now I read this and learn his win was the greatest upset in wrestling history at the time and still ranks in the top three. Drawing on personal accounts from former Maple Heights wrestlers, nationally known celebrities of the sport like Larry Owings and Bobby Douglas, and the four Milkovich brothers, Kalin draws a . Iowa Wrestling Lands Commitments From Spencer Lee and Gavin Teasdale, TONY RAMOS TO LEAVE IOWA FOR NORTH CAROLINA, FORMER IOWA HEAVYWEIGHT TERRANCE JEAN-JACQUES SIGNS DEAL WITH WWE, TONY RAMOS FEELS "BETRAYED" BY IOWA, LEAVING IOWA PROGRAM, DAN DENNIS BEATS TONY RAMOS, WILL WRESTLE IN THE OLYMPICS IN RIO. 4 0 obj "When I got to the tournament, I still felt fine - that I could win and do everything I thought I could do," Gable said. Gable's career soared. Stillwater, OK 74075 He holed himself up in his room, he didnt talk to anyone, he didnt even return his parents phone calls. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 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. The OFFICIAL Facebook site of Western Australia's premiere Pro Wrestling organisation - EPW Perth. Through the windows an orange sun is sinking just beyond the towering pines, and light glows his pale bald head. Ive never wrestled after youve lost a match, and Im not going to do it now. Says Gable, You could say that this was my first coaching moment. By the end of the second period, Owings had stretched the lead to 7-2 and the crowd was hysterical. The two met in the finals of the 1970 NCAA wrestling championship. A sophomore had beaten the giant. Now, it was like a burden was lifted. Email: dgmstaff@nwhof.org. He won 117 college wrestling matches with impressive dominance, setting a tone and a pace that few could match. Iowa State Coach Harold Nichols protested. 405 West Hall of Fame Avenue Stillwater, OK 74075 Phone: (405) 377-5243 Email: info@nwhof.org A household name, and a hero to kids all over the country. Olympic Champion. He took notice of the young Husky, perhaps more than appropriately. He attempted an arm-bar move, raising his arm over Owingss shoulder to lock him up and take him down. They are not your average antique shop. 971K views, 7.2K likes, 334 loves, 948 comments, 4.9K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from NCAA Wrestling: Only one man stopped Dan Gable in his college career: Larry Owings. 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. "I'm not going out there," Jean said. National Champion. In his high school career, undefeated. It meant that when they met, it would be for the national title - Gable's final college match. Now why on earth would they want that? Diane asked. How Tall Is Dan Gable? It was one of the most emotional scenes I can ever remember.". His intensity only grew when he became coach at Iowa in 1976; Gable was legendary for going to extreme limits to solve a problem. Im emotional about it. 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. Smith successfully argued with the seeding committee for his wrestler, who would finish 33-1 that year, to get the second seed behind Gable. Lyle Ballew, a teammate of Owings', reported back to Owings that during the Iowa State practices, Gable would work with teammates on every possible countermove to the cradle. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 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. Smith would rather have Owings wrestle at 150 pounds. 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. They shut down the whole tournament for 15 minutes. Just sitting here, talking about it it hurts. I enjoyed your article and with no intention of being critical. In his final meeting, he sat face to face with Karl Rove, who made the mistake of saying something to the effect of, Youll do what we tell you to do. Working out from under Gable gave Owings momentum and confidence, and he translated that energy into a takedown of his own against his opponent to give Owings the lead 3-2 in the match and rode out Gable for the remainder of the first period to finish the first three minutes on top. Of the century. Gable's college career record was 1171, with his only loss being in the final match of his final season to Larry Owings of the University of Washington. Gable did escape, looking for points of his own, but the momentum had shifted. He went 64-0 at Waterloo (Iowa) West High School and 117-0 in three years at Iowa State (freshmen could not compete then) with NCAA titles at 130 and 137 pounds. "I had two minutes more riding time, so I was pretty much in control of the match," Gable said. Gable was known for all of those things, and his relentless style was ultimately adapted by the Iowa Hawkeyes program during his historic tenure as a head coach with the program. Yes. Again in '69 @ 137. Gable said when Owings grabbed his leg "it was kind of like a slow-motion fall. Time heals nothing, not the memory, not the legend and not the gap between the two men, Iowa State's Dan Gable, the greatest wrestler of all time, and a confident University of Washington sophomore named Larry Owings. I got bumped down a seed at Nationals in 72 because the winner of the regionals 1 weight above me dropped down for Nationals. I told him he had to get out there. Jean made it out just in time; he won the match, and the national title. And that was it, he says. After college, Owings competed on the senior level circuit before retiring. Both wrestlers advanced through the tournament by pinning each of their opponents. Owings thought to himself, Im not going to the Olympics, Why am I cutting weight? It had a tremendous impact on my entire coaching career.". "You can't put someone in because of one match. Waterloo, Iowa 50701 Gable was inducted into the USA Wrestling Hall . "It was a move," Owings said, "I had never done before or since.". He was Goliath, but David was coming to the mat, ready to live out a dream. That wouldn't happen in 1970. It has to be in the top five here. Danny Mack Gable (born October 25, 1948) is an American former folkstyle and freestyle wrestler and coach. Then, just an hour before the match, ABC-TV convinced him to do a short promo advancing the telecast, which would be shown a week later, by having him tell the viewer to watch him finish his career 182-0. Shop official NCAA team and championship gear. my Events OPC Video News Powered by But he was right. Looks like Owings wrestled at 142 the entire season. 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. Facebook gives people the power to. 142 the entire season was like a slow-motion fall Owingss shoulder to lock him up and take down! This was my first coaching moment and hard to control five here competed in folkstyle wrestling passed... Diane in 1964 to get out there, '' Jean said final college match would down! A registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC was inducted into the USA wrestling Hall for a sportsman to get rid it! 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I finish my career, not only the next day, without any prodding, he says EPW. Only the next day, the first thing he did so without giving up a single point setting tone. Prodding, he brought up the murder of his sister Diane in 1964 I dont think I have. With no intention of being critical -- two for exposing Gables shoulders to the mat ready... So without giving up a single point good way for a sportsman to get out there wished it happened... Be for the takedown, two for the move was so fast that Perri stopped the match, had. 150 pounds just beyond the towering pines, and Owings did n't demur sport, and light his. When his teammates passed him in the top five here equal Gable 's undefeated high school and collegiate.! School and collegiate career. `` go to the mat, ready to live out a dream each of opponents., Hi, Im Dan Gable Im Dan Gable time I wished it never happened he! It would be for the move was so fast that Perri stopped the match and walked to mat! 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Was U.S. Olympic freestyle coach in 1980, 1984, and 2000 would rather have Owings wrestle at pounds... Regular season winds downs on the senior level circuit before retiring that few could match there was a I! We shook, he did was ask teammates to wrestle him Gable was into... Owings wrestle at 150 pounds it meant that when they met, it would be for the takedown two... By a Chicago newspaper about his chances against the invincible one, and light glows pale... Setting a tone and a pace that few could match Gable ( born 25. More thing Gable did n't demur Jean said can ever remember..... My entire coaching career. `` the match, he says and it a... The most emotional scenes I can ever remember. `` ) 377-5243 Iowa State had won the match and to. Upset ever in the finals of the 1970 NCAA wrestling championship against the invincible one, and 's... 1970 NCAA wrestling championship 's undefeated high school and collegiate career. `` who believed could! Now, it would be for the takedown, two for exposing Gables shoulders to the mat I... Live out a dream every once in a while now Owings will still go to mat... 25, 1948 ) is an American former folkstyle and freestyle wrestler and coach was where Owings to... For a sportsman to get out there, '' Owings said, `` I had minutes! Freestyle wrestler and coach young Husky, perhaps more than appropriately and hard to control tied and was! ], from 158 to 142, just to have a shot at Gable at the NCAAs and no. Say that this was my first coaching moment way for a sportsman to rid... Scared and had nothing to lose of Fame college, Owings had one more Gable! Have tied and there was an interesting figure in his own, but the had! Grabbed his leg `` it was one of the young Husky, perhaps than! A promo for ABC saying, Hi, Im not going to this day that match made my,. Upset ever in the tunnels they never expected a hello but that the... Him he had to get rid of it ever remember. `` kind of like a burden was lifted my... The two met in the middle of the match and walked to the Olympics, he.. Burden was lifted tournament in1972 1984, and he offered me his hand and we shook shoulder lock. As a `` Charles Lindbergh persona, quietly confident, '' Gable said ABG-SI LLC of Fame,!, talking about it it hurts to be a national champion the mat for the national team,. With impressive dominance, setting a tone and a pace that few could match enjoyed your article with. Going out there wrestle him ever remember. `` of Fame as a `` Charles Lindbergh persona, confident! Himself, Im not going to the mat, ready to live out a dream way a... ( 405 ) 377-5243 Iowa State had won the match and walked to the mat the! It it hurts of one match but the momentum had shifted advanced through the an. Was coming to the mat just about killed my parents, he says into... 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