He was stunned he had lost. Owings neighbor and close friend of two decades showed up to a tournament a few years ago and saw Owings in the stands wearing a shiny purple Washington jacket. Id never experienced that before, says Gable. Gable says that the loss was like a death in the family. It just about killed my parents, he says. And that was before he won gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics. After college, Owings competed on the senior level circuit before retiring. The NCAA shifted weight classes fairly often back then so wrestlers adjusted either up or down. 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. 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. NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler. He would get up in the middle of the night to do pushups, knowing his opponent still slept. But in ink? Well, thats not me, he says, as he reads about the retirement of Larry Owings of Brownwood, Texas. 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. He had a chance to face Owings again three weeks later, then again seven months later, but Owings lost in the preliminary round. By the time the two wrestlers took center stage of the arena for the fourth match of the evening-- Gable in a sleeveless cardinal-and-gold jersey and separate trunks; Owings in a one-piece purple piece with U of W monogrammed on the chest -- it was so loud, with a standing room crowd of nearly 9,000 squeezed into McGaw Hall, that the wrestlers couldnt hear the ref, Pascal Perri, unless they leaned in close. I think Ill wrestle till Im at least 80, he said during a recent interview. Gable, then and now, says the near-fall was "a judgment call.". Larry Owings, Coach/Official, Canby, Oregon. LARRY OWINGS AND DANGABLE, Kris Murray and Tony Perkins lead Iowa to its best road win of the year, The Iowa Hawkeyes and the Big Ten Tournament. Owings went to work on top, forcing Gable into a passive position and generating a stall call against the Cyclone for a point. Michael Jordan is the Dan Gable of basketball. He's still the most famous person in the world of wrestling. 13-11. Phone: (319) 233-0745 Facebook gives people the power to. Results Placement Matches (16 Man) Team. 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. There is, however, still the open wound from 1970. "It was bedlam. The OFFICIAL Facebook site of Western Australia's premiere Pro Wrestling organisation - EPW Perth. Energy, aggression, speed and endurance. Gable said he learned not to take an opponent lightly, to eliminate distractions and accentuate an aura of invincibility and intimidation toward an opponent, just as Owings had done to him. 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 . Owings ran three miles every morning around the Husky Stadium track, averaging six minutes a mile and sprinting the final quarter-mile in less than a minute. 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. \DP,uaO@LtT H]v[?Nr)|cXB!>Br$<4y3gz 1oZu, FO]+#3* u_i!c+pIf'iwC+)p\G zF\LxW"ve(1t^~W#ZxD!K(BTvA;h\5Ij _IAial&$prh~PZdm%6/LmJLU^+qLq) And if he could use them to help somebody else, he should. Owings has not talked to Gable since 1980, and that was a brief conversation to ask him to consider looking at a wrestler in his district. National Champion. If so, he must have had to have gone 142 for his qualifying tournament before the Big Dance, right? "At that point, once I saw the score and only three seconds left, I knew he couldn't get two points," Owings said. "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. Larry Owings Invitational detail view. Im emotional about it. Gable won, easily, but Owings scored some points and even put the champ on his back one time. He beat Gable in the finals of the 1970 NCAA Tournament, one of the most famous wrestling matches in history. 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. NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler. With 17 seconds left, Owings was ahead 13-11. But Dan Gable, of course, is so much more than one result. The house lights were dimmed, with only the overhead lights framing the mat in the center of McGaw Hall. Finally, Gable says in a quiet, raspy voice, I know that the match affected my entire life. Hes not. 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 By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. "I could talk after that," he says. 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. He had pinned everyone in the 1970s national tournament before this match, and he was considered to be the unquestionable favorite against a wrestler he beat two years prior at the Olympic Trials. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. "I was almost embarrassed to have won," he says. With a score of 8-6, Gable again worked for back points before a scramble ensued. He coached for a while, then settled into obscurity of teaching and administrating. He holed himself up in his room, he didnt talk to anyone, he didnt even return his parents phone calls. The wrestler would go on to win a national championship. 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. 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. He walked over and saw his teammate Chuck Jean there. He would sprint from class to class on the campus at Ames, clutching course books and wearing weights tied to his ankles. Gable remembers the moment the seed of doubt was planted entering the 1970 national championships at Northwestern Universitys McGaw Hall. No high school kid can come close to scoring on Owings. The basement in the Gable home in Iowa City is full of trophies and trinkets and framed photos in glass cases; Dan Gable calls this part of the house the museum, and every museum must be a complete representation of history. The move was so fast that Perri stopped the match and walked to the scorers table to ensure that the proper points were awarded. Mike Gerald, who now lives in Austin, Texas, wrote a book on Owings when the two became acquainted in Oregon. "Probably some day," said Roderick, who is president of the museum. It was done out of utter desperation, but hey it worked. I know a good way for a sportsman to get rid of it. Just sitting here, talking about it it hurts. Im not going out there, Jean said. It was a good match, wasnt it? he says. I had it, says Gable. This was Owings' opportunity, the fateful moment when his never-used leg sweep caught Gable by surprise. 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.. Phone: (405) 377-5243 Gable was only the third wrestler to have ever been inducted into the United World Wrestling's Hall of Fame in the Legend category. I wasn't that surprised the night Caldwell beat Metcalf. The two met in the finals of the 1970 NCAA wrestling championship. He was presented with the Man of the Year award during the championships, the media sought him out before and after every match, and he was struggling under the burden of a 181-match winning streak. In his first 117 college matches, undefeated, including two national championships. It made him want another crack at the legend, but he wouldnt have a chance until that final round of the 1970 national championship at the Northwestern University fieldhouse in Evanston, Ill. Larry Owings won the Pac 12 at 157 and went to 142 for Nationals. Gable loves telling the story of how he once had a freshman wrestler on his team who faded at the end of matches; to build up the wrestlers mental toughness, Gable drove would drive the wrestler 10 miles out of town a several times a week after practices, and had the freshman run all the way back to campus as Gable followed him in his car. I didn't know he passed away in 2013, but that explains the omission of Joseph/Martinez. NCAA Champion and Outstanding Wrestler. Join Facebook to connect with Larry Owings and others you may know. Gable's college career record was 117-1, with his only loss being in the final match of his final season to Larry Owings of the University of Washington. 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. Gable's teams compiled a dual meet record of 355215. Owings looks like hes one sweaty workout away from his wrestling weight at Washington. "He was a good, solid all-around wrestler who did not make a lot of mistakes," said Owings, now director of facilities for the Molalla (Ore.) School District. It is annually the most viewed element in the Hall. He went in for Gables leg and picked up a clutch third-period takedown, almost catching the Cyclone off guard as time ticked down. After the defeat, Gable won gold medals at the 1971 world championships as well as the 1972 Olympics. 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. His 1970 NCAA finals victory over Dan Gable cemented his place in wrestling history. He also became the greatest coach in U.S. college wrestling, winning 17 NCAA titles, and 21 Big Ten Championships. Not, like he-was-on-a-Wheaties-box-one-time famous (though he was). Dan Gable was and is a god among men in the world of amateur wrestling. 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. There was a time I wished it never happened, he says. Feeling stripped of his powers after his loss, Gable was finding out what it was like to be human. 2014. National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum, Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award. Larry Owings, Coach/Official, Canby, Oregon Graduated from Canby High School where he was a two-time OSAA champion. Just sitting here, talking about it it hurts. Im emotional about it. 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. But Larry Owings had tremendous credentials of his own. Darrell Keller, Oklahoma State DEC Larry Owings, Washington, 16-12 150 lbs Stan Dziedzic, Slippery Rock DEC Jay Arneson, Oklahoma . At Iowa State, he became an NCAA Division I national runner-up and two-time national champion. Michael Jordan is the Dan Gable of basketball, a sportswriter once said. Earned bachelor's degree and master's degree in education from the University of Washington. He wasn't stalling on top, but he wasn't earning any additional points either. Jean was due to wrestle in the night's final match, and the PA announcer called for the match wrestlers: Jean had three minutes to get to the mat. He was intrigued by Owings' swagger. He wrestled Gable one more time, in the 1972 Olympic Trials, losing 7-1. "I've never wrestled after you've lost a match, and I'm not going to do it now." While wrestling still consumes Gables life, it now occupies such a small corner of Owings -- a retired school administrator, his life revolves around his wife and his 15-year-old daughter Sami, his work with his church and maintaining his properties in the small town of Aurora, Ore. -- that even some of those closest to him are unaware of his wrestling past. He now does university fund raising and works with the U.S. Olympic team. To understand the legend of Larry Owings, you must first understand the legend of Dan Gable. To say Owings was the underdog would be, well, an understatement. It was during 117-1 at Iowa State University that lost to Larry Owings in 1970. It also dominated him. Stillwater, OK 74075 "After that match, it took me a long time to really admit a lot of things," Gable said. 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. 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. 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 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. He clings to it like a drowning man trying to stay afloat, because he understands what once had defeated him also made him a champion. 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. Both wrestlers advanced through the tournament by pinning each of their opponents. "GABLE FALLS!" screamed the banner headline in the next day's Des Moines Register. Wrestling was already fading in his life when he met Diane, the woman who would become his second wife. Dan Gable will tell you that eighty percent of wrestling matches are decided before the first whistle blows. Smith, a man not quite 5 feet tall, ran over and bear-hugged and hoisted his champion. 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. Minn. Owings was wrestling best at 136.5 . 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. in the state of Iowa really going to lose it right now? His voice cracks, his eyes flicker, and suddenly, he goes silent, grasping for words. He was going for his third title at 142 pounds, and virtually everyone thought he was a lock. Just sitting here, talking about it it hurts. Most have never heard of Larry Owings. His intensity only grew when he became coach at Iowa in 1976; Gable was legendary for going to extreme limits to solve a problem. The line Gable had to recite was simple: Hi, Im Dan Gable. Highlights of his career include gold medals at the 1971 Tbilisi Tournament, the 1971 world championships, and the 1972 Olympic Games. 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: . 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. Is the hardest S.O.B. I didnt know you could do that. Larry Owings Fall 5:19 Bryan McGann 6-3 David McGuire 4-0 Shane Foley 8-5 Mike Riley 9-0 Reid Lamphere 15-11 Larry Owings 13-2 David McGuire 8-4 Mike Riley 2-1 Reid Lamphere 14-12 David McGuire 3-3, 1-0 David McGuire Fall 4:32 130 Weight Class David McGuire 4-2 Len Groom, Northern Colorado [2] Mike Milkovich, Kent State Everette Barnard, Indiana The only defeat that Gable suffered during his. Gable was one of the few. The match at Northwestern had its impact on both wrestlers. "It was an indication," Gerald said, "that Gable was taking him real seriously. His one collegiate loss, however, has become the most famous match from his wrestling tenure in his final match. "I thought I could win on riding time when I caught up 8 to 8, Gable told Tom Tomashek of the Chicago Tribune. How Much Is Dan Gable Worth? ,Bk*+P2S` (fTrcSo NY]XX+%[w R&]_O!-(%z2R Er= de DHN"q)^P#o6Cx$%{s'1|zV9 Inducted into University of Washington Athletic Hall of Fame. That wouldn't happen in 1970. Owings was an outstanding 29-1 for the season, Gable an astonishing 181-0 against high school and college competition. Here's what you may have missed. He was as relentless and as conditioned as Gable was. Wow! How about Andy Daniels beating John Azevedo or Gary Barton winning the tournament in1972. He went on to the sensational international and Olympic career that has already been described. And when I was younger, I really was pretty fat. ALEXANDER Stephen. They haven't talked to each other since. After losing 20 pounds and growing several inches, nobody believed he couldn't be a wrestler anymore. Such was the message from Saturdays thrill ride with its sharp turns and breathtaking drops. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Larry was tough. It was quite the pedigree, but no one expected the same from Larry, for one simple reason. Every once in a while now Owings will still go to the mat. National Wrestling Hall of Fame. 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. Gable said no thank you. Larry Owings As Sports Illustrated reported in its coverage of the 1970 NCAAs, "Owings was far more accomplished than most people realized. Owings briefly wrestled internationally and retired in 1973 to his home in Oregon. 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. I didn't know how the referee would score it.". 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. 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." I assume how hard it could be to train when you're given a lot of essays and homework to do. 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. He was U.S. Olympic freestyle coach in 1980, 1984, and 2000. He said he "coached some wrestling ". In fact, Gable would emerge from the Owings match stronger, more determined. What are you doing? Grant went up, Owings went. Theyre waiting for you to lift your head. Gable did -- and the cheering finally stopped. "I'm not going out there," Jean said. And then, having found a nine-minute YouTube clip titled Gable-Owings, Larry Owings taps the play button, and, with a strange mix of fascination and unease, he leans back in his chair. As painful as the experience was, looking back, he believes it may have helped toughen him up. Yes. I enjoyed your article and with no intention of being critical. View the profiles of people named Larry Owings. He holed himself up in his room, he didn't talk to anyone, he didn't even return his parents' phone calls. Email: dgmstaff@nwhof.org. 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. College matches, undefeated, including two national championships from larry owings wrestling High Excellence... 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