GABLE ON NATIONAL DUALS
With new home in Dome, event becoming No. 2
Q So what are your impressions of the National Duals, which are in Cedar Falls next year as well?
A It’s not over yet, so I always reserve the right to leave the event, sleep on it for a day and then I can give you a better answer. All I can say is that I’ve been pretty impressed about what has been taking place. Obviously, there have been a few glitches like clocks going out. What you do is figure out that those clocks are pretty important and you need a full-time clock guy out here.
If they want to put this event as the second-highest event of the year, next to the national tournament, then you have to be ready for all angles. That’s why they needed it a first time here and the NWCA has never had it with this large of number of teams.
It’s reminded me of the old (Iowa) state tournament, where you could just get up and move wherever you want. It’s good for the fans.
Q If this is ever going to be a true national event, shouldn’t at least all the top ten teams compete on an annual basis?A If you really want to make it a national event, of course you attend it. More than that, it’s the right thing to do, especially when you go out and get commitments from national sponsors
These people put a lot of time and effort into the sport and they deserve the backing of the coaches. We need to have the coaches realize that it is a big valuable tournament. If I was (Iowa) coach (Jim) Zalesky yesterday, I learned a lot about my team just from watching them that many times. Even though they were in the wrestlebacks, he learned a lot about his athletes and that’s real critical. It could make for better decisions as the season goes on, including who should be in the line-up? We saw them under some pretty stressed conditions.
Q What incentives can be made so that all teams want to attend this event?
A You have to go out of your way to do some nice things. You have to spend a lot of time showing the coaches what you’re doing for them besides just providing good competition. You want to make sure they have the right place to stay, make sure they have every break to make their trip that much easier. You can go as far as finding out how to get them here a little cheaper. I think the Waterloo-Cedar Falls area can do this. There are things about its past and future that are good for wrestling.
Q This is the only time of the season that fans can see every division of college wrestling under one roof. What is the difference in the divisions and the wrestlers?
A There are less and less differences and I think it’s good. The quality is getting better across the board at every level. What the fans will see is that there are even college teams wrestling in the club system, which has some good wrestlers. It’s not just intramural. It’s probably three steps above that.
Q Speaking of the different divisions, there are some fans who would like to see non-Div. I wrestlers — like Nebraska-Omaha heavyweight Les Sigman — get a chance to wrestle in the Div. I tournament. What do you think?
A Some people? Everyone wants to see that, except for the NCAA committee who decides that. If (such an idea is) a landslide, then go with it. There is not enough education and knowledge out there for the people who make the decisions to do it. You can talk until you are blue in the face. It has to do with other sports; not the simple reason that they should be able to move up and wrestle in Division I.
Q What will change that thinking by the NCAA?
A You have to have people in the right places listening. That’s sometimes hard. I think the NWCA with (executive director) Mike Moyer is getting stronger all the time and having more influence all the time. That’s how it’s going to change.
Q During the recent Iowa-Oklahoma State dual, there was a special moment where fans were thunderous with their applause after Ty Eustice beat Zack Esposito. What can we do to create more “buzz” moments in wrestling
A Athletes need to realize that when you blow the whistle, it isn’t just about tactics or strategy or doing the least to get by. It’s really about doing the most to entertain, but not at the expense of losing. If there is not much going on, then that’s where the good referee steps in and calls stalling. It also comes from the coaches and how they practice and get into their wrestlers’ minds to make sure they know it’s not just about winning and losing.
We are artists and should perform that way. Fans should not yawn at wrestling meets. It’s more like, “Let’s have a great time.”
The other thing that is going to improve our sport the most is the ability to get into households and on television; have someone edit it to where people say, ‘What’s that?’ That’s how some of my best friends got hooked; taking their channel surfer and all of a sudden they stop to watch something that caught their attention.
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