Fairfax, Va.
By Jason Risley
GoMason.com
Wrestling legend Dan Gable, acclaimed for his accomplishments both as an athlete and a head coach, will make a special appearance on behalf of the George Mason wrestling program at Brion’s Grille in Fairfax, Va. on Monday, Oct. 23. The event will cost $200 per person to attend, with all proceeds supporting George Mason wrestling. A cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m., with dinner scheduled for 7 p.m., and Gable speaking following the dinner. Fans interested in attending the dinner can contact George Mason head coach Mark Weader for more information. Weader can be reached by phone at (703) 993- 3299, or via email at [email protected].
“I’m very thankful Coach Gable is willing to travel across the country to make this appearance for our program,” Weader said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for fans of George Mason wrestling and fans of athletics in general to meet the most accomplished wrestler and head coach in the history oilhe sport.”
Gable, who returned to Iowa this season as an assistant coach, has experienced success both on the mat and as a head coach. As the University of Iowa’s all-time winningest wrestling coach from 1977 to 1997, Gable compiled a career record of 355-21-5. He coached 152 All-Americans, 45 National Champions,
106 Big Ten Champions and 10 Olympians, including four gold, one silver and three bronze medalists.
The Hawkeyes won 25 consecutive Big Ten championships, 21 under Gable as head coach and four while he was an assistant coach and administrator. He compiled a winning percentage of ..932 and captured nine consecutive (1978-86) NCAA Championships.
Gable also coached many United States teams in international freestyle competition. He is a three-time Olympic head coach (1980, 1984 and 2000) and served as an assistant freestyle coach at the 1976 and 1988 Olympics. Gable also served as head coach of the World Team in 1977, 1978, 1979, 1983, I994 and 1999, as well as 10 World Cup teams winning three team golds in World Cup Competition. Gable also coached the U.S. team to a bronze medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games, and has led several all-star teams to Europe and the Soviet Union.
Gable’s accomplishments as an athlete are just as impressive as his coaching resume.. In 1972, he won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics without surrendering a point to any of his opponents. In Gable’s final 21 Olympic qualification and Olympic matches, he scored 12 falls and outscored his nine other opponents, 130-1.
During his prep and college careers, Gable compiled an unbelievable record of 182-1. He was undefeated in 64 prep matches, and was 118-1 at Iowa State.. His only defeat came in the NCAA finals his senior year. Gable was a three-time All-American and three-time Big Eight Champion. After college, Gable added titles at the 1971 Pan American Games, the 1972 Tbilisi Tournament and the 1971 World Championships.
Gable was named to the U.S.A. Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980, and to the US. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985. He was selected the nation’s outstanding wrestler by the AAU in 1970, and the US. Wrestling Federation in 1971. Gable was the Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year in 1970.
Gable was born on Oct. 25,1948, in Waterloo, Iowa. He received his B.S. degree ftom Iowa State in 1971. He and his wife, Kathy, have four daughters: Jennifer, Annie, Molly and Mackenzie.
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