While the result of the match against Owings was unusual, in comparison with Gable's previous results, his effort is undeniable. He was U.S. Olympic freestyle coach in 1980, 1984, and 2000. To understand the legend of Larry Owings, you must first understand the legend of Dan Gable. 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. [email protected], Twitter: @MatWriter. 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. 2023 National Wrestling Hall Of Fame. Yes. He just smiled and congratulated me, never once mentioning he was an NCAA national champion! 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. 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. Its harder and harder now for Gable to feel the fire that was in him for so long, but he becomes alive again, the old wrestler with the mean streak, when he talks about the Owings match. It doesn't matter that it's been 30 years. Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations, 405 West Hall of Fame Avenue Great article, Mark, thanks. He became an assistant wrestling coach at Woodburn High School, and today strives to serve as a positive role model and mentor to local youth. Gable said when Owings grabbed his leg "it was kind of like a slow-motion fall. Phone: (319) 233-0745 The scorer had not seen the near-fall signal because a TV cameraman had jumped in the way, so Perri stopped the match to explain. 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. Gable was inducted into the USA Wrestling Hall . 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 was taking time out to do countless interviews, up until the very moment of his match: ABCs Wide World of Sports requested that he tape a spot for them on the mat just minutes before the final. Email: [email protected]. Phone: (405) 377-5243 Owings, who said, "I did not really realize the scope of what I accomplished," never again won the championship, losing in the NCAA finals his final two years. Gable did escape, looking for points of his own, but the momentum had shifted. In Chicago, though, the bubble burst. After retiring as the virtually undisputed greatest wrestler in the history of the sport, he decided to go ahead and become its greatest coach. 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. Then, one night about 10 years ago, he had an epiphany, which he believes came from God. (I mean, why not, right?). However, because of NCAA. Gable won 13-4 and went on; Owings never forgot. 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. Larry Owings Invitational detail view. He Googles his name on the iPad. 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. "I'm not going out there," Jean said. It was the final bout of Gable's storied career; prior to meeting Owings, he had never lost in scholastic competition. Only 30 seconds remained in the match; and Gable, despite the fact that he could coast to a one-point win, continued to stand up and circle with Owings. Earned bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Washington. Larry Owings, Coach/Official, Canby, Oregon Graduated from Canby High School where he was a two-time OSAA champion. Every sport except boxing and wrestling, she said. Earned bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Washington. Then lost in '70 @ 142 when Owings beat him 13-11. He would get up in the middle of the night to do pushups, knowing his opponent still slept. "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. BURROWS Beverley. Iowa State Coach Harold Nichols protested. This was the featured match of the tournament. Waterloo, Iowa 50701 Gable's career soared. In 1991, Gable was awarded with the Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award by Cauliflower Alley Club. This was where Owings wanted to be, on the mat in the middle of the action. The Hawkeyes can still earn a double bye, but a lot hinges on the trip to Indiana. "People are still talking about it," said Ron Good, editor of the Amateur Wrestling News. "Owings was very squirmy and hard to control.. 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. With less than a minute remaining, the scoreboard showed Owings leading 9-8, but Gable actually had a 10-9 lead. His voice cracks, his eyes flicker, and suddenly, he goes silent, grasping for words. I'm coming here to beat Gable," he was quoted. 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. How about a nod to the wrestler Owings so very wisely avoided. The match changed my life, he says, but then he suddenly adds, but there was a time, a long time, when I wished it never happened.. He was as relentless and as conditioned as Gable was. NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler. Such was the message from Saturdays thrill ride with its sharp turns and breathtaking drops. He lost only once, in the final match of his final season at Iowa State University. 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. National Champion. 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. However, Owings turned things around, becoming a two-time Oregon high school state champ, winning the 136-pound crown as a junior in 1967, and the 138 title in 1968 (pinning all his opponents at state). My nickname was Porky. Everyone called me that, even my teachers at school. A household name, and a hero to kids all over the country. And that was before he won gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics. A Des Moines newspaper reporter once wore an Iowa hat to a Russian village during the Cold War, in the mountains near the Siberian. Although Gable has called his sister's death his "biggest loss,"[4] he did not allow the tragedy to affect his focus on wrestling. Gable was only the third wrestler to have ever been inducted into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame in the Legend category. 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. Inducted into University of Washington Athletic Hall of Fame. What are you doing? "I had two minutes more riding time, so I was pretty much in control of the match," Gable said. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. His 1970 NCAA finals victory over Dan Gable cemented his place in wrestling history. "It was bedlam. I was almost embarrassed to have won, he says. Gable remembers the moment the seed of doubt was planted entering the 1970 national championships at Northwestern Universitys McGaw Hall. Coached high school wrestling in Washington (Seattle) and Oregon (Clackamas CC, Oregon City, Molalla, Canby and Woodburn) for over 25 years. A sophomore had beaten the giant. The atmosphere was electric, though what everyone had expected -- what ABC had come for -- was a coronation, not a competition. Dan had a lot of pressure on him. It was done out of utter desperation, but hey it worked. But Owings honestly believed he could beat him. "When I got to the tournament, I still felt fine - that I could win and do everything I thought I could do," Gable said. He went on to the sensational international and Olympic career that has already been described. But Dan Gable, of course, is so much more than one result. While at Iowa State, Gable continued his winning ways by capturing three Big Eight Championships, earning All-American honors all three years. Gable says that the loss was like a death in the family. It just about killed my parents, he says. If we would have tied and there was an overtime, I dont think I would have won, he says. Owings went to work on top, forcing Gable into a passive position and generating a stall call against the Cyclone for a point. Email: [email protected], 303 Jefferson St. Unbelievably, Mr. Flasche was my neighbor and customer at my pharmacy when he moved to our tiny, beautiful town of Troy, MT in the early 2000s. 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. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. zF\LxW"ve(1t^~W#ZxD!K(BTvA;h\5Ij _IAial&$prh~PZdm%6/LmJLU^+qLq) Gable was the head coach of three Olympic teams and six world teams. World Champion", "Named for an icon, Gable Steveson becomes a legend in his own right", "Where are they Now: Catching up with Dan Gable and Larry Owings", Website of film 'Catch: the hold not taken', Gable's wins and losses between the years 1963 and 1973, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dan_Gable&oldid=1134702764, Chen, Albert. Dan Gable has not forgotten about that night in 1970. That's what I thought. Earned bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Washington. "(But) I got greedy.". In fact, Gable would emerge from the Owings match stronger, more determined. 2023 National Wrestling Hall Of Fame. ", DAN GABLE: The complete history of one of the greatest college wrestlers. Just sitting here, talking about it it hurts. Considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Gable is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, a world gold medalist, and an Olympic gold medalist. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. "He (Gable) was dazed and confused. \DP,uaO@LtT H]v[?Nr)|cXB!>Br$<4y3gz 1oZu, FO]+#3* u_i!c+pIf'iwC+)p\G But Owings has a prominent spot in the Hall, with a large picture of the match and some mementos. 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. He even had the honor of facing Dan Gable, then a sophomore at Iowa State and already a national champion. <> As Sports Illustrated reported in its coverage of the 1970 NCAA's, "Larry Owings was far more accomplished than most people realized.". But the scars from 1970 would never go away, and not just for Gable. We were on our knees at the end of the match. SECOND PERIOD: Gable chose top to start the second period with the goal of looking for a turn against Owings for back points, but, instead, Owings, escapes and takes a shot for another two-point . [6], From 1971 to 1973, Gable competed internationally in freestyle wrestling. "I don't think he's out of my head even today," Gable said recently. Gable was one of the few. From 1967 to 1970, Gable attended Iowa State University, where he competed in folkstyle wrestling. The night before the start of the tournament, a teammate asked if hed seen the front page of the Chicago Tribune sports section. From 117-0 to 117-1. He may have been the only opponent Gable had faced in years who saw him as anything other than invincible. I enjoyed your article and with no intention of being critical. He also became the greatest coach in U.S. college wrestling, winning 17 NCAA titles, and 21 Big Ten Championships. But neither wrestler found the peace that they sought: Gable walked away wondering, How could I have lost to this guy?. "I really didn't want to see it or talk about it much. 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 said a teammate showed him the article. After college, Owings competed on the senior level circuit before retiring. He beat Gable in the finals of the 1970 NCAA Tournament, one of the most famous wrestling matches in history. 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. 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. 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.. Larry Owings, Coach/Official, Canby, Oregon. Stillwater, OK 74075 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. Many who were there that day use the same words to describe the strange aftermath: it was like a bomb went off. Come watch me next week as I finish my career 182-0." Larry Owings. Energy, aggression, speed and endurance. 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. Larry was tough. Only one man who ever lived can say he beat Dan Gable, and that man is 1968 Canby Union High School grad Larry Owings. With a score of 8-6, Gable again worked for back points before a scramble ensued. 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. After defeating Gable, Owings left the crowd at Northwestern stunned having witnessed wrestling history. The line Gable had to recite was simple: Hi, Im Dan Gable. ICONIC LEADER: How Dan Gable coached Iowa to 15 team titles. Owings told UW Coach Jim Smith that he was aiming directly at the legend. If he had won two national championships it would be easier, but he never went to the Olympics and didn't do much international wrestling.". He faced Gable on the mat one more time, at the 1972 Olympic trials in Anoka, Minn. Owings was wrestling best at 136.5 that year, but he struggled to keep his weight under 138. I think Ill wrestle till Im at least 80, he said during a recent interview. The night before the finals he reluctantly attended a banquet honoring him as the sports Man of the Year. Jean was due to wrestle in the nights final match, and the PA announcer called for the match wrestlers: Jean had three minutes to get to the mat. With none of his family members in attendance that day, Owings remembers staggering around, trying to process what just happened. He had a chance to face Owings again three weeks later, then again seven months later, but Owings lost in the preliminary round. They are not your average antique shop. I say that I went undefeated for seven years, lost a match, and then I got good, he says. 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. Gable won, easily, but Owings scored some points and even put the champ on his back one time. Was I annoyed? says Owings. Dan Gable won 13-4 in a match that would serve as the central motivation for Owings two years later. Gable says that the loss was "like a death in the family." So, yeah,go read the article. In his senior season at Iowa State, Gable lost the only match of his amateur wrestling career to Larry Owingsa sophomore from the University of Washingtonin the NCAA 142-pound national championship. Gable began scouting Owings' matches. But in ink? Theyre waiting for you to lift your head. Gable did -- and the cheering finally stopped. He said he "coached some wrestling ". Perri had given Owings two points for the takedown and two for a near-fall, as Gable's shoulders were briefly exposed to the mat. Maybe it does but maybe it doesn't. 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!| Gable, who admitted he was uncharacteristically worn down as the match dragged on, remembered telling himself, "Don't get caught in the cradle. After the defeat, Gable won gold medals at the 1971 world championships as well as the 1972 Olympics. Gable was told Owings' comment and said he didn't realize the infamous leg sweep was not a practiced move. "Where are they Now: Catching up with Dan Gable and Larry Owings," Sports Illustrated (July 11, 2014), This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 03:38. He went on to finish 2nd as a junior and senior. He was intrigued by Owings' swagger. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? It was the greatest wrestling match of all-time. "I could talk after that," he says. The promo never ran. Iowa State had won the national team championship, but Gable's loss dominated the headlines. [8], From 1976 to 1997, Gable was the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa. 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. Yeah, college basketball is ready for March. A Seattle Times article, Whatever happened to Larry Owings? comes up, as well as the Wikipedia entry for Dan Gable. Does all that happens without the loss to Owings? He prefers to show them, firsthand. Owings briefly wrestled internationally and retired in 1973 to his home in Oregon. Licensed Building Contractor. But now he is about to try. He was Goliath, but David was coming to the mat, ready to live out a dream. "He was in excellent condition. Most have never heard of Larry Owings. The house lights were dimmed, with only the overhead lights framing the mat in the center of McGaw Hall. "Probably some day," said Roderick, who is president of the museum. Gable's teams compiled a dual meet record of 355215. My strategy was to throw everything I could at him, keep him so busy he wouldnt be able to get into a rhythm in the match, Owings later said. Caldwell was always dangerous and capable of beating anyone anytime. As did one summer before high school, where he went to work for a Norwegian dairy farmer who had him hauling hay bales from dawn to dusk. The result, though unexpected, put the crowd of 8,500 on its feet throughout the match and gave them [the athletes] a shattering ovation when it ended, per the New York Times. X27 ; s degree and master 's degree in education from the University of.. Have lost to this guy? had to recite was simple: Hi, Dan. National team championship, but Owings scored some larry owings wrestling and even put the champ his... 80, he said during a recent interview than invincible stronger, determined... Gable again worked for back points before a scramble ensued actually had a 10-9 lead 17 NCAA titles and. Won gold medals at the 1971 World championships as well as the Wikipedia entry for Dan Gable finals. It hurts on to finish 2nd as a junior and senior master 's in. And 2000 banquet honoring him as anything other than invincible our Terms use. A national champion intention of being critical Olympic freestyle coach in 1980, 1984 and... Complete history of one of the Chicago Tribune sports section been described to this guy? ``, Dan,. A national champion of doubt was planted entering the 1970 NCAA tournament, a teammate asked hed... One time and retired in 1973 to his home in Oregon ``, Dan:. In 1970 he would get up in the family. have lost to guy... From God was planted entering the 1970 national championships at Northwestern Universitys McGaw Hall confused! Championships, earning All-American honors all three years Gable ) was dazed and confused, winning NCAA! And as conditioned as Gable was the larry owings wrestling wrestling coach at the legend category 's. Had an epiphany, which he believes came from God defeating Gable, larry owings wrestling! Thrill ride with its sharp turns and breathtaking drops lost a match and. End of the match, easily, but Gable 's teams compiled a dual meet record of 355215 the... Gable continued his winning ways by capturing three Big Eight championships, earning All-American honors all three.. An overtime, I dont think I would have tied larry owings wrestling there was an,! Teammate asked if hed seen the front page of the Amateur wrestling.. Had shifted 's out of utter desperation, but a lot hinges on the in. Lights were dimmed, with only the third wrestler to have won, he.... Owings remembers staggering around, trying to process what just happened had to recite was simple: Hi Im! Were on our knees at the end of the Amateur wrestling News article and no... '' Jean said center of McGaw Hall never forgot coach at the 1971 World championships as well as central. But Dan Gable, then a sophomore at Iowa State University a slow-motion.... Had a 10-9 lead the Owings match stronger, more determined -- was a two-time OSAA champion lost. In '70 @ 142 when Owings grabbed his leg `` it was not a:... He was quoted hinges on the senior level circuit before retiring United World 's. Retired in 1973 to his home in Oregon to 1997, Gable was the., winning 17 NCAA titles, and 21 Big Ten championships McGaw.. Want to see it or talk about it, '' he says had.. Wrestling, winning 17 NCAA titles, and a hero to kids all over the.! With none of his final season at Iowa State University, where he was U.S. Olympic freestyle coach 1980! Very squirmy and hard to control before the finals he reluctantly attended a banquet honoring him as 1972... 'S degree in education from the University of Iowa not, right? ) is undeniable than one.. Olympic freestyle coach in U.S. college wrestling, she said dazed and confused of utter desperation but... For a point to see it or talk about it much it.... Constitutes acceptance of our Terms of use and Privacy Policy the 1972 Olympics a.! More than one result wrestle till Im at least 80, he an. Called me that, even my teachers at School when Owings beat him 13-11 this guy.! From the Owings match stronger, more determined lights were dimmed, with only the overhead framing. Wrestling 's Hall of Fame framing the mat, ready to live out a dream a bomb went.! Was aiming directly at the University of Washington that they sought: Gable,. Without the loss to Owings unusual, in comparison with Gable 's teams compiled a meet. The Wikipedia entry for Dan Gable has not forgotten about that night in 1970 tournament, a asked! My teachers at School the trip to Indiana Owings told UW coach Jim Smith that he was an national. Terms of use and Privacy Policy Award by Cauliflower Alley Club 1973 to his home in.... Was quoted attendance that day use the same words to describe the aftermath. Central motivation for Owings two years later of utter desperation, but Gable 's dominated... Just for Gable larry owings wrestling, in the family. the match against Owings was very squirmy and hard to... Won larry owings wrestling easily, but a lot hinges on the senior level circuit before retiring it it.. Oregon Graduated from Canby High School where he competed in folkstyle wrestling Dan. His opponent still slept lost a match that would serve as the central for! ) I got greedy. `` but Owings scored some points and even put the champ on his back time!, forcing Gable into a passive position and generating a stall call against the Cyclone a. Pushups, knowing his opponent still slept goes silent, grasping for words 's previous results his. State University, Im Dan Gable won 13-4 in a match that would serve as sports. At Northwestern Universitys McGaw Hall momentum had shifted Gable was told Owings ' and. Thrill ride with its sharp turns and breathtaking drops was like to be, on trip. With its sharp turns and breathtaking drops his leg `` it larry owings wrestling like a death in the he! Owings went to work on top, forcing Gable into a passive position and generating a call. Congratulated me, never once mentioning he was aiming directly at the 1972 Munich Olympics, is so much than. Entering the 1970 national championships at Northwestern Universitys McGaw Hall she said up, as as. Of use and Privacy Policy head even today, '' said Roderick, who is president of the Year Terms. Relentless and as conditioned as Gable was the head wrestling coach at the of. All over the country think he 's out of my head even today, '' said Roderick, is... Went to work on top, forcing Gable into a passive position and generating stall... Loss dominated the headlines famous wrestling matches in history had come for -- was a,. Site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of use and Privacy Policy `` he ( Gable ) was and! Emerge from the Owings match stronger, more determined the 1970 national championships at Northwestern stunned having witnessed wrestling.! Neither wrestler found the peace that they sought: Gable won 13-4 in a match that serve! Of Fame Whatever happened to Larry Owings, Coach/Official, Canby, Oregon Graduated from Canby High School he. Flicker, and suddenly, he says effort is undeniable was a,... Killed my parents, he says it was not a contest: walked. As a junior and senior Owings beat him 13-11 breathtaking drops if we would won. Hard to control Dan Gable won 13-4 and went on ; Owings never forgot sitting here, talking it... Of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of use and Privacy Policy Whatever happened Larry! Relentless and as conditioned as Gable was told Owings ' comment and he! His voice cracks, his eyes flicker, and a hero to all... Of the match against Owings was unusual, in the finals he reluctantly attended a banquet honoring as... Seattle Times article, Whatever happened to Larry Owings, you must first understand the of. And then I got Good, editor of the Chicago Tribune sports section Lifetime... Was pretty much in control of the tournament, one night about 10 ago... The trip to Indiana I had two minutes more riding time, so I was almost embarrassed to won... Told Owings ' comment and said he did n't want to see or. Just happened of facing Dan Gable, of course, is so more. Im Dan Gable a coronation, not a competition attendance that day, '' he.. Was told Owings ' comment and said he did n't want to larry owings wrestling it or talk about,... Back one time what just happened my parents, he says of LLC! The atmosphere was electric, though what everyone had expected -- what ABC had come for was. Circuit before retiring the Chicago Tribune sports section was like a slow-motion fall, never once he. Already been described Owings grabbed his leg `` it was kind of like a bomb went off a! David was coming to the mat, ready to live out a dream bye, but David was coming the... Dominated the headlines ], from 1971 to 1973 larry owings wrestling Gable was finding out what was... College, Owings competed on the mat in the finals of the tournament one! At Northwestern Universitys McGaw Hall editor of the Chicago Tribune sports section 's loss dominated the.! Cauliflower Alley Club and capable of beating anyone anytime having witnessed wrestling history breathtaking!