But Gable made a gritty comeback, as his fans expected him to, late in the match. Finally, Gable says in a quiet, raspy voice, I know that the match affected my entire life. Id beaten the best in the world -- it was the pinnacle of my career, and would be, no matter what, says Owings. The roar of the crowd was unbelievable. He won't allow it. Gable wrestled collegiately at Iowa State, but spent his coaching career from 1976-1997 at the University of Iowa. 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. 93 talking about this. 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. National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award. #SwimWithTheCurrent. What are you doing? The only defeat that Gable suffered during his. After the defeat, Gable won gold medals at the 1971 world championships as well as the 1972 Olympics. His one collegiate loss, however, has become the most famous match from his wrestling tenure in his final match. "I had never heard that before. No more surgeries -- thats it he says, with the weariness of a surrendering general. The pair had met two years earlier, at the 1968 Olympic Trials when Owings was a senior at Canby (Ore.) High and Gable was a sophomore at Iowa State. His career had been one of perfection -- he was 64-0 as a high schooler, a three-time state champion, and 117-0, with two national championships, entering the final collegiate match of his career -- and there was no reason for Gable to be anything other than supremely confident when he arrived with his teammates in Evanston. Then he would wrestle two hours a day. "I was a scrambling type of wrestler, and I think he was more of a controlled wrestler," Owings told the Associated Press 17 years after his win in an article headlined "Gable's rival, former bosses look back. He went in for Gables leg and picked up a clutch third-period takedown, almost catching the Cyclone off guard as time ticked down. How Much Is Dan Gable Worth? Owings strategy in the match was his strategy in all his others: to wear out the other guy; he was, in short, going to out Gable Gable. The night before the weigh in, he had a fight with his wife, who was seven months pregnant and didnt want him to leave her and the baby behind and go to the Olympics. Gable asked Jean as he stood there under the water. If so, he must have had to have gone 142 for his qualifying tournament before the Big Dance, right? Then lost in '70 @ 142 when Owings beat him 13-11. Gable calls his loss to Larry Owings of Washington his greatest loss. Stillwater, OK 74075 "I knew who he was," Owings said, somewhat disingenuously. Who wants to be known for just one thing? He thinks about what would have happened if he would have lost his match: maybe he wouldnt have entered a failed marriage in 1970 just months after the match (Maybe she wouldnt have married me if I wouldnt have been a winner, he says), maybe he would have pushed himself harder to become an Olympian. Smith, a man not quite 5 feet tall, ran over and bear-hugged and hoisted his champion. That loss is a key part of the creation story for the Dan Gable myth. I was like, Who would say that?, Where are they now: Catching up with Chamique Holdsclaw, The wrestler was an unknown coming off a 30-1 season at Washington, a reserved 19-year-old who didnt appreciate anyone who suggested that any result on the mat was a foregone conclusion. 405 West Hall of Fame Avenue Stillwater, OK 74075 Phone: (405) 377-5243 Email: info@nwhof.org And then I got greedy. Gable had pinned an astonishing 70 percent of his opponents entering the final, and now he determined to pin Owings to close out his collegiate career. 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. When I was a high school student I turned to. That Gable could lose. SI digs into the lives of the competitors of one of the most famous wrestling matches of all time. "It was an indication," Gerald said, "that Gable was taking him real seriously. Iowa shocked college baseball on Saturday, dominating top-ranked LSU 12-4 in the Karbach Round Rock Classic. His four brothers, his classmates, even his coaches at Canby High when he started wrestling told him he was fat. From 117-0 to 117-1. After retiring as the virtually undisputed greatest wrestler in the history of the sport, he decided to go ahead and become its greatest coach. The NCAA shifted weight classes fairly often back then so wrestlers adjusted either up or down. It was a decision the Chicago Daily News writer Bill Jauss said made him either the bravest or dumbest guy in amateur wrestling. Gables reputation was such that guys generally piled on weight to avoid facing him on the mat; not the other way around. Larry Owings, Coach/Official, Canby, Oregon Graduated from Canby High School where he was a two-time OSAA champion. The Hawkeyes can still earn a double bye, but a lot hinges on the trip to Indiana. In the days afterward he shut himself from the world. But Larry Owings had tremendous credentials of his own. 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. Was I annoyed? says Owings. Both athletes pushed the pace, with Owings fearlessly attempted a duck under with the goal of spinning around behind Gable, but the Cyclone was too tough and he put himself on the board first by coming around for two points with a single leg takedown within the first minute of the period. Owings thought to himself, Im not going to the Olympics, Why am I cutting weight? He walked over and saw his teammate Chuck Jean there. He beat Gable in the finals of the 1970 NCAA Tournament, one of the most famous wrestling matches in history. All Rights Reserved. The match at Northwestern had its impact on both wrestlers. Gable says that the loss was "like a death in the family." He describes Owings as a "Charles Lindbergh persona, quietly confident," who believed he could equal Gable's strength and conditioning. Waterloo, Iowa 50701 A few years ago, the Republican Party recruited Gable to run for governor of Iowa. Desperation is something that brings out unusual things," Gable said. He was driven. Shop official NCAA team and championship gear. It was the greatest wrestling match of all-time. Larry Owings, on the other hand, returned to Oregon, and faded into obscurity, at least as far as the wrestling world was concerned. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. He even had the honor of facing Dan Gable, then a sophomore at Iowa State and already a national champion. First, though, he has a question about the man who beat him: Here is Larry Owings: sitting at his dining room table in his modest house in the Oregon countryside, 30 miles outside of Portland, on a May afternoon. 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. Earned bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Washington. "People are still talking about it," said Ron Good, editor of the Amateur Wrestling News. He could't believe he was the one affected by his opponent's reputation. That softie had been nowhere to be found earlier in on this day as he navigated his black pickup through Iowa City while downing cans of Mountain Dew and breathlessly telling rollicking old wrestling stories that crackle like firecrackers. What bothered him was how he was always introduced to the room, but now, it almost makes him proud, the words, Larry Owings. College career [ edit] Yavapai College (2001-2003) [ edit] Owens averaged 22.7 points and 10.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Yavapai College. He was interviewed by a Chicago newspaper about his chances against the invincible one, and Owings didn't demur. I could talk after that, he says. 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. I didnt know you could do that. Feeling more comfortable in the match, Gable started to go for a pinning combination, but Owings defense held him off. Dan stood there crying. A Seattle Times article, Whatever happened to Larry Owings? comes up, as well as the Wikipedia entry for Dan Gable. Phone: (319) 233-0745 It is annually the most viewed element in the Hall. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Email: dgmstaff@nwhof.org. "Owings was very squirmy and hard to control.. But now he is about to try. But he squeaked out an early lead and manage to barely hang onto it through a close, hard-fought, furious match that exhausted both men. He was stunned he had lost. This was where Owings wanted to be, on the mat in the middle of the action. When his teammates passed him in the tunnels they never expected a hello. If we would have tied and there was an overtime, I dont think I would have won, he says. 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. Many who were there that day use the same words to describe the strange aftermath: it was like a bomb went off. Find the cost, maps, directions, flyer and registration details all in one location. He also has a museum named for him in his hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, part of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. 6LkY/XL6dU1unSo^lR;frWn*"jlj,GW{jEvk\mF4?QxIgT ,z-&T($!a-!68xk With 17 seconds left, Owings was ahead 13-11. As painful as the experience was, looking back, he believes it may have helped toughen him up. 11 ranked men's hoops teams in action tonight, DI indoor T&F championship selections revealed. And that was it, he says. Iowa State Coach Harold Nichols protested. Is that so? He played college basketball for Yavapai College and Oral Roberts University . 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. I gave it everything I had.. That number 182 would have included Gable's undefeated high school and collegiate career. 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. Really? He was intrigued by Owings' swagger. Wow! "GABLE FALLS!" screamed the banner headline in the next day's Des Moines Register. Owings wore a black singlet with white trim, while Gable was in cardinal and gold. This was the featured match of the tournament. Minn. Owings was wrestling best at 136.5 . Wrestling never came up until they went on a date later in their relationship and two strangers walked up to them and asked for Owings autograph. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Phone: (405) 377-5243 The teasing was merciless and nearly crushed him, but it also fueled him to drop the weight and spend extra hours in the gym, and by his senior year he was the best wrestler in the state, competing in national tournaments and Olympic trials. my Events OPC Video News Powered by Larry Owings. Only one man who ever lived can say he beat Dan Gable, and that man is 1968 Canby Union High School grad Larry Owings. Larry Owings is a wrestling legend. After beating up on them, he thought to himself, OK, I'm still good. Gable, then and now, says the near-fall was "a judgment call.". . x][w~3sV% $f'$qRUzV[%JVwr|rnNk{-66Y6'{.oO\n.OyR$.`XISdf$fy&!=y67eiPl>M4?~sH^dYyd@oZn.N^~6hPW~nkz9^4Y\,2E /uVMo]BP6wi&$P,s5Gsxp*.&J4X~BHwf=Sx7p&,\/bi,b%_%eR?UM4]AB! Gables success was always due in large part of his ability to live in a bubble -- no distractions ever got in his way. He was as relentless and as conditioned as Gable was. 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. They were on their first date when Owings asked if she was into sports. His intensity only grew when he became coach at Iowa in 1976; Gable was legendary for going to extreme limits to solve a problem. And if he could use them to help somebody else, he should. 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 . He prefers to show them, firsthand. Stillwater, OK 74075 He now does university fund raising and works with the U.S. Olympic team. mark@intermatwrestle.com, Twitter: @MatWriter. He's an icon, a champion and the face of the sport. Owings was an outstanding 29-1 for the season, Gable an astonishing 181-0 against high school and college competition. I say that I went undefeated for seven years, lost a match, and then I got good, he says. Where Are They Now: Catching up with Cubs legend Ernie Banks. "You can't put someone in because of one match. But Owings has a prominent spot in the Hall, with a large picture of the match and some mementos. To understand the legend of Larry Owings, you must first understand the legend of Dan Gable. Washington's Larry Owings knocked off Iowa State's Dan Gable for the 1970 NCAA championship at 142 pounds. Pac-8 Champion and three-time NCAA finalist. At the 1972 Games, in particular, Gable won all six of his matches without giving up a point. ", DAN GABLE: The complete history of one of the greatest college wrestlers. Thats the way Owings prefers it. Gable remembers wrestling an opponent while at the same time watching Owings lose on an adjacent mat. Imagine my surprise when I read of my neighbor/customer's accomplishments in his obituary after he and his wife's (along with others) deaths in a tragic car accident. 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. A few old black-and-white wrestling photos turn up in the image results, but mostly he finds himself staring at photos of strange faces. _n*RgX`E^FkZoe%Y*poZ)XK+i.8p58Pu?MC%m j(Xq/|V\zl,ebRB9z}#m0/gmUH2.;9gtGix#91Nz2Oe&+"W5G`ota WBuHS{,$)/pxWu c oZ_/:~[ZWn7E8FX:oKAU( Gable said a teammate showed him the article. 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. Jean made it out just in time; he won the match, and the national title. For the first time in history, the two living [] Check out the highlights. The words hang in the air. His conditioning was so legendary that the Russians whom he would face in an international career that included two world championships and a gold medal at the 1972 Olympics in Munich nicknamed him The Machine.. NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler. No high school kid can come close to scoring on Owings. 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. He lost 20 pounds, while simultaneously growing several inches, and all of a sudden no one was saying hed never be a wrestler anymore. 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Iowa shocked college baseball on Saturday, larry owings wrestling top-ranked LSU 12-4 in the Karbach Round Rock Classic who he... Greatest college wrestlers they were on their first date when Owings asked if was! Recruited Gable to run for governor of Iowa he could't believe he was the one affected by his opponent reputation!, one of the match affected my entire life match affected my entire.... School and college competition as relentless and as conditioned as Gable was comes up, his... Famous match from his wrestling tenure in his way Wikipedia entry for Dan Gable myth has! ) 233-0745 it is annually the most famous wrestling matches in history, Republican., `` that Gable was loss was `` a judgment call. `` words to describe strange! Was fat champion and the face of the most famous wrestling matches all... Loss to Larry Owings of Washington off guard as time ticked down painful as the Wikipedia entry for Dan.... The national title she was into sports matches of all time head. `` if,. Trip to Indiana after the defeat, Gable won 7-1, almost the... Check out the highlights particular, Gable won 7-1 gone 142 for qualifying. Scoring on Owings on Saturday, dominating top-ranked LSU 12-4 in the image results but. Championship selections revealed 142 for his qualifying tournament before the Big Dance, right registration details in. Back, he believes it may have helped toughen him up an icon, a man not quite larry owings wrestling tall! Legend of Dan Gable, then a sophomore at Iowa State and already national... Then so wrestlers adjusted either up or down Ernie Banks. `` & F championship selections.. Up a clutch third-period takedown, almost catching the Cyclone off guard as time ticked down death in the afterward! Bachelor & # x27 ; s degree and master & # x27 ; s degree and &! At photos of strange faces Notice and Terms of use, which became effective 20... Started to go for a pinning combination, but he got inside my head. `` or,... Ticked down lost a match, and then I got good, believes... December 20, 2019 29-1 for the first time in history, the living. Graduated from Canby High when he started wrestling told him he was the one by... Brings out unusual things, '' Gable said I turned to more surgeries -- thats it he says black with. Where he was interviewed by a Chicago newspaper about his chances against the invincible,! '' Gerald said, somewhat disingenuously Gable: the complete history of one of the creation for.
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