gables wrestling career

Dan Gable began wresting at the age of seven. His father Mack entered him into YMCA wrestling tournaments. When Dan was a freshman it was against high school rules to let freshman wrestle on the varsity team. Because you are not allowed to wrestle on varsity as a freshman you cant go to state. But throughout his sophomore to senior year he was an undefeated state champion. Also during his sixty- four prep matches he was undefeated. And at Iowa State he was 118-1 his only loss was to Larry Owings. Dan won two NCAA titles the one year he did not was when he lost to Owings. Gable wrestled internationally between the years 1971 and 1973. His folkstyle record was 29-1 and freestyle record was 97-5. And on the varsity team he went 99-1. At the very end of his wrestling career his record was 299- 6- 3. With182 pins. He became a five time wrestler of the year, and a two time freestyle champion. As a freshman he went 17-0, and as a junior he went 30-0 with 25 pins in high school.

Interview with Dan Gable

Q: In what year did you win your first World Olympic Title?
A: In 1972 I got my first all American and Olympic title.
Q: What amazed you about the Munich Games?
A: That I didn’t get scored on a single time throughout six matches.
Q: What was your final record of just High School and College?
A: I ended my school career at 119-1 my only loss to Larry Owings.
Q: In what year was your one and only loss?
A: My senior year.
Q: What was the final score of your match against Owings?
A: He won in overtime by throwing a four point move. 13-11
Q: What did most people know you as?
A: good coach, good wrestler, and a good friend.
Q: How many NCAA titles did you win?
A: I won three in a row. And the one I did not win was the loss I had to Larry Owings.
Q: What weights did you wrestle throughout college?
A: as a sophomore I wrestled at 130 and junior and senior I was at 137 pounds.
Q: How did you end up in the 1973 Olympics?
A: I won the 1973 Olympics at the light weight class.

Ding, Dong, Ditching.

In the summer my friends and I hang out a lot, and there are many time that we went Ding, Dong, Ditching. The time I remember the most was when we almost got caught three times! Whenever we are going to go Ding, Dong, Ditching I always have friends stay the night because we can always go outside when it is dark and we can stay up as late as we want. So before we left my house we all went through my dressers and found all black cloths. The day we almost got caught was so fun. It was on my birthday July 14, 2009. And some of the Ding, Dong, Ditching was probably done on the 15th because we were up so late. This house was huge. It had three floors and was blue. These houses were so big. All at least two floors. The first time we almost got caught was because my friend wasn’t paying attention when I rang the door bell so he just stood there. But before they opened the door he finally ran. This house was red and the person that started to follow us was an old man about seventy. The second time was when a sensor light turned on and they saw us so they started to follow us. We started running as fast as we could. Then I ran into a big bird feeder probably six feet tall and my friends didn’t know so they just keep running. And when they realized I was not there they all went to my house and that is where I was waiting for them. So we jumped my fence so we could hide and the old man finally went home. The last time we almost got caught was because we jumped into a bush to see there reaction my friends phone started to the play the song “When I’m Gone” by Eminem. We got away because they looked in a different bush so we rolled away and ran away. Then when we decided we were done my family had gone to bed. So the front door was locked. So we went around back and that door was also locked. So we went to the garage and that door was unlocked but the door inside was locked. Then I remembered the spare key was in the garage so we finally got inside. Then we decided to play the Wii. We were up so late. After we were done playing the wii we went to bed. And when we woke up we had doughnuts and chocolate milk. Later that night we decided to go see the movie “Benchwarmers.” We had a very fun weekend.

Dan Gable was born on October 25, 1948. He attended Waterloo West High School. On June 2, 1964 Dan’s older sister Diane Gable (19) was brutally raped and murdered, when the family was on vacation for Memorial Day Weekend. Dan was fifteen when this happened. When Dan heard the news he suspected the person that did it. He had always had a bad feeling about that person. “This will hurt us, but it will give me a reason to just keep pushing no matter what happens.” Said Dan. Mack and Katie Gable feel that Dan’s wrestling will be a big uplift on the family. So Dan went on and kept going. He pushed himself harder and harder every practice. This event in Gable’s life gave him even more motivation.