Natick ready to host icon: Dan Gable to give free wrestling clinic
By Rick Rendell / Daily News Correspondent
First, it was John Smith, Olympic champion and successful coach at perennial power Oklahoma State. Then, it was Rulon Gardner, celebrity conqueror of Russian giant Alexander Karelin. Now, a third American wrestling legend is coming to town.
Dan Gable, the Michael Jordan of U.S. wrestling, will be the featured guest in a clinic today (2-5:30 p.m.) at Natick High School and a fundraiser for the Mike Breau Scholarship, in memory of the Natick wrestler and Hopkinton coach who died in a motorcycle accident.
“For someone like Dan Gable to come in is amazing, but to be able to turn it into a benefit in Mike Breau’s memory is even better, “said longtime Natick wrestling coach Bob Anniballi. “It’s really great for everybody involved — not only the Massachusetts wrestling community, but any type of sports enthusiast.”
Gable has earned his legendary status both as a coach and a wrestler.
A three-time All-American at Iowa State and three-time USA Freestyle National champion, Gable went on to capture a world championship in 1971 and then win Olympic gold the following year in Munich. He did not allow a point en route to capturing the gold.
After retiring as a wrestler, Gable spent 21 years as the head coach at the University of Iowa, winning nine straight NCAA championships, including seven perfect seasons, and 21 Big Ten titles in a tenure that also produced 152 All-Americans and 12 Olympians. He also coached the U.S. Olympic team in 1980, 1984 and 2000.
“I was out with some friends last night, and I was trying to explain the magnitude of the man, “said Anniballi. “I can’t think of any other athlete who dominated his sport at his time like Gable did, and then to turn around and change hats and become arguably the most prolific college coach of any sport.
“No one dominated as a amateur and a coach that much in the history of sport. It would be like Joe Montana taking over an NFL team and winning five straight Super Bowls.”
Anniballi, along with one of his former charges — Hudson High head coach Aaron Polansky — and Harvard University coach Jay Weiss were the main figureheads involved in today’s special event.
“I was talking to Jay Weiss and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great getting someone in for the clinic this year as we have before?’ Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could bring Gable?’ “said Polansky. “Especially the reality of Thanksgiving weekend, I’d never believe it. But coach Gable will be coming and will leave a wedding early to fly into Boston. We feel lucky and honored to have him.”
The young wrestlers who attend the clinic may not know who Gable is now, but they will certainly appreciate this years down the road.
“The impact comes later, “said Polansky. “They will see the reaction from people who lived through his accomplishments, even if they don’t have a concept of what it was that he did. It gives people an opportunity to be in touch with greatness.”
Admission is free to the event sponsored by USA Wrestling and several other wrestling organizations. Donations to the Mike Breau Scholarship Fund will be accepted at the door. The funds will benefit a wrestler at both Hopkinton and Natick high schools.
Anniballi is expecting around 300 wrestlers from all over New England to converge on the Redmen gymnasium, and they got a late addition to the clinic lineup. Karam Gaber Ibrahim, who was dominant en route to the Greco-Roman gold medal in the 2004 Athens Games — the first gold by an Egyptian in 56 years — will begin the clinic today at 2 p.m., followed by Gable. But these may not be the last wrestling legends to come to town.
“We’re looking to promote the sport of wrestling as a whole, “said Polansky, who is planning to organize an Ironman series of three tournaments after the winter’s high school wrestling season is over. “We may bring in another name or group of big names. You may see some names then. We will leave people in suspense.”
Could someone like a Cael Sanderson or Bruce Baumgartner be headed to Natick? Time will tell.
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