Yesterday I made an uncanny prediction.
After shooting some YouTube videos with my son, Frank, I came indoors and flicked on the boob tube to watch the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
That’s when I told Frank my prediction for the heavyweight matchup between Minnesota’s Gable Steveson and Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson.
“Gable Stevenson is named after Dan Gable,” I began.
“Really?” Frank said.
“Yes. Now let me give you a little backstory before this match. Dan Gable was 181-0 going into his final match in college. He was a two-time NCAA champion at that point, and no one thought he would lose except his opponent, Larry Owings, who predicted before the NCAA’s began, that he would beat Gable. They met in the finals and Owings won, 13-11, stunning the world.”
“Alright, so….”
“Well, Gable Steveson, whom I repeat, was named after Dan Gable, is also a two-time NCAA champion. He’s also an Olympic Gold Medalist and a World Champion. Well, after he won the nationals his second time, and the Olympics, he went into the WWE. And due to rule changes, he was allowed to return to college to pursue his third NCAA title.”
“Mmmm hmmm. So what’s your prediction?”
“I predict that some way, some how, Wyatt Hendrickson is going to beat Gable Steveson. He’s going to be the Larry Owings of the modern era. Keep in mind that this will be Gable Steveson’s final college match, same as Dan Gable’s. Tonight we are going to see if history sort of repeats itself.”
“I don’t think there’s any way that Gable Steveson is going to lose,” Frank said.
“Don’t be so sure,” I winked. “Strange things happen in the NCAA wrestling tournaments. One thing I can tell you is IF he does beat him, this will be talked about for decades. It will be a bigger upset than Gable losing to Larry Owings, which people still talk about even though it took place in 1970.”
President Trump was in the front row watching.
Gable Steveson’s name was announced first. He entered the arena to loud cheers.
Then Wyatt Hendrickson, with the American flag draped over his neck and shoulders, made his way into the arena to take the mat against Gable Steveson.
There appeared to be a confrontation between the two grapplers as soon as Hendrickson stepped on the mat.
And then the match began.
The two big men moved as though they were lightweights, attacking and countering one another’s moves, but there was little scoring going into the third period.
Gable Steveson held a narrow lead in the match with 30 seconds remaining. My prediction appeared to be wrong.
But with about 20 seconds remaining, Hendrickson attacked Steveson’s legs and wrapped him up.
Could he take him down and win the match?
No way.
Gable Steveson had not been taken down a single time the entire season. No one takes him down. EVER!
But this time…
Yes way.
With 15 seconds remaining, Gable Steveson fell to the mat, giving up three points.
Now all Gable Steveson had to do was escape and the match would go into overtime.
No one holds Gable Steveson down.
EVER!
Not for more than a few seconds.
But this time…
Wyatt Hendrickson held on for the win of his life.
And he won.
YES WAY!
Dan Gable lost his final match in college.
And now, Gable Stevenson lost his.
Does history repeat itself?
Sort of.
Stange things happen in the finals of NCAA wrestling tournaments.
‘Twas an uncanny, unsound, but easy prediction in a hard-fought bout… if you see the whirld churning with a discerning eye.
Here endeth the lesson!
Matt Furey
