Present at the beginning. Gable wrestled Olympic tryouts in Iowa City late spring/summer '72. Competition avoided that weight class (68 kg/149.5 lbs.). Gable wrestled very little at tryouts, bouts were over very quickly. I remember Gable dressed in several layers of sweats, constantly working out along the periphery of the old fieldhouse. He got virtually no workout actually wrestling opponents. Watch '72 Olympics on T.V., a great, great team. Gable returns to Iowa City as assistant coach under Kurdelmier. I was frequently in wrestling room watching workouts. One seat in the house, on the steps as you walked down into room. Gable went through anybody who wanted to roll with him, generally upper weights. Guys in the room were all young, not ready for Gable (Smith, Yagla, Holm, Wagaman, Campbell, Bolwsby). Campbell athletic as hell, cat quick and twenty pounds bigger than Gable. Gable was relentless and exhausted everybody. Many great wrestlers found their way to Iowa City. Both Ben Peterson and John Peterson were there. As was Wade Schalles. Ben was Gable's teammate and could go with anyone (Olympic gold, fourty pounds bigger than Gable). Schalles an absolute bitch, if he was 21 years today, he would go with anyone. Jay Robinson in the room but seldom wrestled; knees and hips. But (!!) he was a fabulous coach/teacher/technician/clinician. There was no end to his knowledge, very articulate.
