Ricco arrives at Gable Museum What was the first thing mixed martial arts star Ricco Rodriguez wanted to do when he stepped off the plane in Waterloo, Iowa, for his fight with Travis Fulton on May 1, 2010? Visit the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Rodriguez won his fight with a head kick later than evening and now holds a mixed martial arts record of 41-11, including a win over Randy Couture in 2002. Rodriguez stands with Joshua Mancuso in front of a large mural of Abraham Lincoln in the lobby.

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Sesker meets Sesker Kent Sesker meets Kent Sesker. Kent Sesker of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum stood next to a life-sized cutout of himself at the NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis. Sesker officiates high school and college wrestling meets and was chosen to represent wrestling in a special area of the Hall of Champions. Sesker was on his way to the Ohio Tournament of Champions and stopped by for a visit. Good call Kent.

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Clinic April 2010 Kids participate in the Tolly Thompson clinic prior to the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa induction ceremony, 2010. Thompson, native of Janesville, Iowa, and NCAA champion for Nebraska, entered the hall of fame a few hours after the clinic.

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Neosho Community College Team Dan Gable poses with members of Neosho Community College’s wrestling team in April of 2010. Members of the team came from Kansas for the Tolly Thompson clinic and for the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa inductions.

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Dan Gable to attend RAGBRAI

Iowa’s greatest sports figure will be in Waterloo, Iowa, on Thursday, July 29 for RAGBRAI
(Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) sponsored by the Des Moines Register.

Dan Gable, a native of Waterloo, is arguably the greatest coach and athlete ever. In 1972 Gable won the Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling without surrendering a point. As the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa from 1977-1997, he led his teams to 15 NCAA titles in 21 years.

“As a former member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, I’m proud to be associated with an event that promotes health and the City of Waterloo,” said Gable. “Being one of 12 Olympic wrestling champions from Iowa allows me to promote fitness and this sport.”

Gable will be at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at 4 p.m. for pictures and autographs. At 5 p.m. Gable will put Doug Schwab and his training partner through a Gable-style workout in the Dan Gable Teaching Center located inside the Dan Gable Museum.

Gable’s workouts are known worldwide for their intensity.

Schwab, an NCAA champion and three-time All-American for the University of Iowa, was recently named the head wrestling coach at the University of Northern Iowa. He was recruited to Iowa by Gable in 1996.

At 8 p.m. Gable will welcome all RAGBRAI riders to Waterloo at Lost Island Water Park.

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum is located at 303 Jefferson St. in Waterloo, Iowa. For more information call (319) 233-0745 or e-mail info@wrestlingmuseum.org.

Funk, Foley, Vachon among those honored at Tragos/Thesz HOF

By JOYCE PAUSTIAN - For SLAM! Wrestling

WATERLOO, Iowa - Despite some changes to the format from previous years -- and to the museum itself -- the 2010 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame held its induction ceremonies this past weekend. Five new members were inducted to the Hall of Fame, and several other awards were handed out as well.

Just a few weeks before the induction weekend, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo's Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum -- home of the Tragos/Thesz Hall -- announced a partnership, joining forces to preserve the rich history and proud traditions of the sport of wrestling for future generations. The Iowa facility is now the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Management for both museums will be combined, with joint marketing, fundraising, promotion, education and other programs executed out of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater. The joint operation will combine each museum’s resources to operate more efficiently, which will allow for greater public awareness.

To read more, click here.

Hudson Taylor: Magician on a Mission

Hudson Taylor, a three-time All-American from Maryland, was a celebrity at the Ohio Tournament of Champions in Columbus, Ohio, on April 24. Taylor is the great, great, great grandson of James Hudson Taylor, considered by some as the greatest missionary since the Apostle Paul.

The modern day Taylor is known for his ability to secure a fall -- and for his magic. At the 2009 NCAA tournament Taylor won the Gorriaran Award for the most falls in the least amount of time. But his card tricks, not his wrestling, were on display at the Ohio Tournament of Champions.

Kyle Klingman of the Dan Gable Museum spoke with Taylor at the tournament about his name, the greatest magician ever, and his future in wrestling. Click below to listen in.

Audio interview with Hudson Taylor

Thompson, Allen among Hall of Fame inductees

mike_allen by Jim Nelson, special from the Waterloo Courier

WATERLOO - Tolly Thompson's message is simple: "Eat it, live it, love it and like it."

Wrestling was at the root of that philosophy for Thompson, who became one of five new inductees into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame Saturday during a ceremony at the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.

"Growing up here, living here ... growing up in Northeast Iowa ... To go into the Dan Gable, Glen Brand Hall of Fame is an honor," Thompson said.

He joined New Hampton native Gordan Hassman, Iowa national champion Dan Holm, Waterloo native Mike Allen (pictured right) and Iowa City West head coach Mark Reiland as part of the 2010 class.

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Recording of the radio show July 21, 2010 - 58 minutes

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National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum and Dan Gable International Wrestling Museum Announce Historic Partnership to Increase Sport’s Visibility

STILLWATER, Okla. – Wrestling’s two greatest museums will soon become one, as the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum and the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum are joining forces to preserve the rich history and proud traditions of the sport of wrestling for future generations.

The historic partnership was announced today by Jim Keen Sr., Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, and Bob Buckley, President of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum.

Highlights of the partnership include:

As of June 6, the Dan Gable International Wrestling Museum and Institute in Waterloo, Iowa will be known as the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will retain its current name and continue to operate in Stillwater, Okla.

Management for both museums will be combined, with joint marketing, fundraising, promotion, education and other programs executed out of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater. The joint operation will combine each museum’s resources to operate more efficiently, which will allow for greater public awareness and education efforts to further inspire the next generation of champion athletes.

Each museum will continue to host its unique series of events, as in the past.

Dan Gable Museum talks with Larry Owings

They will forever be connected. The victory will never be forgotten.

When sophomore Larry Owings defeated Dan Gable in the 1970 NCAA finals at 142 pounds it was national sports news. The match is now part of wrestling lore: Dan Gable, riding a string of 181 consecutive high school and college victories, lost his last collegiate match.

Owings placed second at the NCAA tournament the subsequent two years. Gable won the 1972 Olympics without surrending a point. As the head wrestling coach at the University of Iowa, Gable's teams won 15 NCAA titles in 21 years.

Kyle Klingman of the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum caught up with Owings at the Ohio Tournament of Champions in Columbus. Owings was part of the celebrity signing that included three-time All-American Hudson Taylor of Maryland and NCAA champion Steve Luke of Michigan.

Owings discusses all three of his matches with Dan Gable, dealing with success, and his daughter's star power in this special interview. Click below to listen in.

Exclusive audio interview with Larry Owings

The legend arrived: Dan Gable returns to Waterloo

Exclusive audio interview with Dan Gable

He may be the greatest athlete and coach ever. Dan Gable, born and raised in Waterloo, Iowa, set the standard for wrestling in this country. His legendary resume includes a 183-1 high school and college record, winning the 1972 Olympics without surrendering a point, compiling a 355-21-5 dual meet record as the head coach at the University of Iowa, and winning 15 NCAA team titles in 21 years. Sports Illustrated named Gable the top sports figure from Iowa in 2000.