When Doug Schwab beat Chris Bono to advance to the Real Pro Wrestling finals at 145 pounds, it was not only unexpected, but also bitter sweet. After all, Bono had won five of the previous six meetings. Ironically, in 2001, Bono hand-picked Schwab to travel overseas with him to be his personal training partner as he prepared for the World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In their semifinal match, Schwab and Bono battled to a 2-2 tie at the end of regulation, which sent the match into sudden death overtime. In the overtime period, Bono got in deep and secured a single leg, but Schwab countered, executing a beautiful tilt for the winning points. There was no love lost after the match, as the two former training partners exchanged words.
“I told him that he’ll never beat me again,” said Schwab, who competes for the Iowa Stalkers. “He called me a punk and some other things. But that’s just the heat of the battle. I think you’re temporarily insane out there for a while. Both of us were probably out of line, but I think the fans probably enjoyed it.”
Fans certainly enjoy watching Schwab compete.
His attacking, in-your-face style helped him dismantle a tough Jared Frayer of the Oklahoma Slam in the quarterfinals. Ask Schwab to describe his style of wrestling and this is the answer he gives:
“Like a buzz saw,” said Schwab, who earned three All-American medals and an NCAA title while at the University of Iowa. “I try to chew the guy up, attack, and score until there is no time left, until he has no energy left, no power left, and no hope left. I’m probably not the most tactical wrestler, but I stay aggressive and am always on the attack.”
Others might characterize his style as the Iowa-Style, which has become associated with a physical method, not as technique-oriented, which emphasizes combative wrestling in practice, as well as hard work. Legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable is thought to be the godfather of the style, which he then passed on to his wrestlers. Gable retired from coaching in 1997.
So is the Iowa-Style still alive?
“It is with me,” said Schwab. “It is with the coaching staff that I’m around. Even though I’m out at Virginia Tech now, I think it’s still alive out here. I can’t say for sure whether or not it’s still alive at Iowa.”
Schwab made the decision last summer to leave Minnesota, where he had been training for the past two years with the Storm, a nationally renowned club, and come to Virginia Tech to coach and train with first year Hokies head coach Tom Brands. Brands, a former World and Olympic Champion, coached Schwab while at Iowa. Former Hawkeye wrestlers Wes Hand and Lee Fullhart also make up the staff.
“I had a number of offers from schools,” said Schwab. “I was around Tom at Iowa for six years, and as far as a guy being committed to his athletes and coaches and doing whatever he can for you, I don’t think there is anyone in the country like him.”
Schwab believes that Brands is the only man who can help him realize his dream of becoming an Olympic Champion.
“I see Tom almost like another family member,” said Schwab. “He’s a guy who is willing to do anything for you, no matter what the situation. He was a World and Olympic Champion and also the Olympic coach this year, so he knows my opponents and knows what’s going on in freestyle wrestling. He’s on top of the game. His mentality is exactly what I strive for. It’s how I see myself.”
Schwab is also quick to give credit to his two older brothers, Mark (who is 10 years older) and Mike (who is 12 years older), for any success he has achieved in the sport. Both wrestled at the University of Northern Iowa. Mark spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota, before taking the head job at Buena Vista last July.
“I remember watching their matches when I was growing up,” said Schwab. “I grew up around the sport, so I just gravitated towards it. I think being a little smaller, I was better suited for wrestling than I was for football or basketball. I just really liked the fact that it’s such a physical sport. You could fight somebody without getting in trouble for it.”
Schwab will take on former Arizona State star Eric Larkin of the Texas Shooters in the RPW finals, which will be shown on PAX TV on May 15th.
“There are some positions that you have to stay away from when you’re wrestling him,” said Schwab of Larkin. “He’s good in par terre. There are a few other things that he is really good at, too. But I want him reacting to what I do. I can’t worry so much about what he does well. If I stay in the positions where I’m strongest, it doesn’t matter who I’m wrestling.”
Schwab is halfway through completing his master’s degree program in kinesiology and sports management. He started the program at the University of Minnesota, but plans on finishing it up at Virginia Tech.
He is proud to be one of the pioneers of the first professional real wrestling league, helping to lay the groundwork for the future.
“I think it’s exciting,” said Schwab. “You want to do everything you can to help make it succeed. The way to do that is going out and performing, making it exciting for the fans. I felt like I did that. Hopefully we have some more chances to make it exciting for the fans and bring the sport to a new level.”
Story By Staff Writer, RPW Home Office
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