Gable Steveson

Gable Dan Steveson (born May 31, 2000) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler. In freestyle, he is a three-time consecutive age-group World Champion, once as a junior and twice as a cadet. As a folkstyle wrestler, Steveson is a two-time All-American and Big Ten Conference champion out of University of Minnesota and a four-time MSHSL champion (five-time finalist) as a high schooler. As of January 26, 2021, Steveson is the top-ranked 285-pound NCAA wrestler in the country as per The Open Mat.[1]

Gable Steveson

Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	May 31, 2000 Apple Valley, Minnesota, U.S
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	260 lb (120 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Wrestling
Event(s)	Freestyle Folkstyle
College team	Minnesota Golden Gophers
Club	Minnesota Storm WC (MN RTC)
Coached by	Brandon Eggum
Medal record Men's freestyle wrestling Representing  United States Junior World Championships 2017 Tampere 120 kg Cadet World Championships 2016 Tbilisi 100 kg 2015 Sarajevo 100 kg Collegiate Wrestling Representing the Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships 2019 Pittsburgh 285 lb Big Ten Championships 2019 Minneapolis 285 lb 2020 Piscataway 285 lb

Folkstyle career

High school

Steveson attended Apple Valley High School. He started wrestling for the varsity team as an eighth grade and he reached the finals of the state tournament with a record of 39 wins and 3 losses.[2] He finished his high school career with 173 more wins and four individual state titles while helping his team win four state titles.[3]

University

In March 2017, Steveson committed to the University of Minnesota as the top-ranked wrestler nationally in the class of 2018.[4]

2018-19

Steveson started his freshman season as a redshirting athlete, winning titles at the Daktronics and Bison Open tournaments. Since his redshirt was pulled in November,[5] he compiled an undefeated 14–0 record in dual meets and a Cliff Keen Invitational title during regular season, with multiple wins over high ranked opponents, most notably second-ranked Derek White in his collegiate debut.[6] Entering the B1G championships as the top seed, he opened up with a technical fall and two decisions to make it to the finals, where he faced the second-seeded Anthony Cassar from PSU. He lost to Cassar by one point, marking his first defeat in folkstyle since eighth grade.[7] At the 2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, he made it to the semi-finals, where he was once again defeated by Cassar by the same 3–4 score.[8] He then won two more matches to claim the third place.[9]

2019-20

Steveson's sophomore season was interrupted in June 2019 when he was arrested along with a teammate on suspicion of criminal sexual conduct.[10] Both were released without charges shortly after due to inadequate evidence.[11][12] However, the University of Minnesota did not lift its suspensions of the two until six months later in December.[13] After his suspension was pulled, Steveson compiled 12 wins and no losses in duals during regular season,[14] becoming the top-ranked 285-pounder in the United States.[15] Despite being number one in the rankings, Steveson entered the B1G championships as the second seed.[16] At the tournament, he opened up with a fall over the tenth seed, and a decision over the third seed to make it to the finale, where he defeated the top-seeded Mason Parris from Michigan to claim the conference title.[17] Steveson was then scheduled to compete at the NCAA championships as the top seed,[18] but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[19] After the season ended, he was named a first team NCAA Division I All-American due to his performance through the season.[20][21]

2020-21

In October 2020, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to winter athletes due to the last season being cut short, this led to Steveson getting an extra-year of eligibility.[22] Steveson is currently competing as a junior, and has compiled a 4-0 record.[23]

Freestyle career

Cadet and Junior

Steveson currently meets the age required for the junior level.[24] As a cadet, he compiled two World Championships,[25] two UWW US National championships[26] and a USAW National championship.[27] As a junior, he racked up a third World Championship[28] and a third UWW National championship.[29]

2018

Steveson made his senior-level debut at the US Open on April 24.[30] He reached the quarterfinals in the championship bracket, where he lost to the eventual accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler Adam Coon. In the consolation bracket he won three consecutive matches to contest for the bronze medal, where he lost by criteria to the top seed.[31]

He then competed at the World Team Trials Challenge on May 18.[32] As the third seed, he defeated the sixth and second seeds respectively to make it to the challenge finals, where he was defeated, placing fourth overall.[24]

2019

Steveson made his return to the senior level a year later at the World Team Trials Challenge.[33] He bested the seventh, third and top seeds to make it to the best-of-three, where he defeated Adam Coon by technical fall and decision respectively, showing major improvements comparing his performances against Coon at the 18' US Open and at this event.[34] This earned him a spot at Final X.[35]

At Final X: Rutgers, he competed twice against Nick Gwiazdowski, whom he lost to by criteria in both matches.[36]

He then made his international senior debut at the Alexander Medved Prizes in August. He ended up placing second, only losing to Khasanboy Rakhimov in the finals.[37]

In his last competition of the year, Steveson added a gold medal to his credit from the Bill Farrell Memorial International, after outscoring four opponents 32 points to 4. This result qualified him for the US Olympic Trials.[38]

2020

Steveson was slated to compete at the US Olympic Team Trials on April at State College, Pennsylvania.[39] However, the event was postponed for 2021 along with the Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving all the qualifiers unable to compete.[40]

After 10 months out of freestyle competition, Steveson wrestled Trent Hillger at the annual Beat The Streets event on September 17.[41] He showed significantly superior skills as he won by technical fall in the first period.[42]

Steveson represented the Gopher WC at 125 kilograms in the FloWrestling: RTC Cup during December 4–5, alongside graduated Gopher Tony Nelson.[43] After siting out in the dual against the Cliff Keen WC, Steveson faced Nick Gwiazdowski from the Wolfpack RTC in an anticipated rematch. He edged the two-time Pan American champion with a score of 4 to 1 points.[44] He then tech'd Jordan Wood to defeat him for the sixth time in freestyle competition to place sixth as a team.[45]

Freestyle record

Age-group freestyle record

Junior level

Cadet level

NCAA record

Stats

Collegiate awards & records

• Sophomore (19-20)

  • NCAA Division I All-America American First Team (285 lbs)
  • Big Ten Conference (285 lbs)
  • Broke the highest winning percentage in Gophers' history (96.15%)

  Freshman (18-19)

  • NCAA Division I (285 lbs)
  • Big Ten Conference (285 lbs)
  • Gophers' Most Outstanding Wrestler and Freshman of the Year
  • Top 15 consecutive victories in Gophers' history (30)

Freestyle awards and honors

• 2019

  • Final X: Rutgers (US World Team Trials) (125 kg)
  • Bill Farrell International (125 kg)
  • Alexander Medved Prizes (125 kg)

  2018

  • US Junior World Team Trials (125 kg)

  2017

  • Junior World Championship (120 kg)
  • US Junior World Team Trials (120 kg)
  • US Junior National Championship (120 kg)

  2016

  • Cadet World Championship (100 kg)
  • US Cadet National Championship (100 kg)

  2015

  • Cadet World Championship (100 kg)
  • US Cadet National Championship (100 kg)
  • USAW Cadet National Championship (220 lb)

References

1. Smith, Earl (2021-01-26). "NCAA DI College Individual Rankings - January 26th, 2021". The Open Mat. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
2. "Apple Valley wrestling star Gable Steveson chasing uncharted greatness". Twin Cities. 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
3. Shaughnessy, Mike. "Gable Steveson can rejoin 'U' wrestling". hometownsource.com. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
4. "No. 1 junior Steveson commits to in-state Minnesota". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
5. "Minnesota to pull Steveson's redshirt for Oklahoma State dual". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
6. "PSU: Big Ten Wrestling Championships weight-by-weight preview | News, Sports, Jobs - The Express". Retrieved 2020-07-13.
7. "WATCH: Anthony Cassar Upsets No. 1 Gable Steveson to Claim Big Ten Heavyweight Title". Roar Lions Roar. 2019-03-10. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
8. "Gable Steveson loses in heavyweight semifinals". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
9. "NCAA wrestling: Gophers' Gable Steveson 3rd, Apple Valley's Mark Hall 2nd". Twin Cities. 2019-03-24. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
10. Miller, Joshua Rhett (2019-06-17). "College wrestlers accused of penetrating victim with 'object'". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
11. "Minnesota wrestlers Steveson, Martinez released from jail without charges, investigation continues". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
12. "No sex assault charges for 2 Minnesota wrestlers". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
13. "Gophers wrestler Gable Steveson back on top after six-month suspension". Twin Cities. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
14. LLC, ACS. "Gable Steveson (Minnesota) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
15. "285". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
16. "Gophers Head East for 2020 Big Ten Championships". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
17. "Iowa wins the 2020 Big Ten wrestling tournament | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
18. "NCAA wrestling tournament brackets 2020: Top seeds announced for each weight class". North Jersey. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
19. Goodwin, Cody. "NCAA cancels Division I, II, III wrestling championships amid COVID-19 pandemic". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
20. "NWCA Division I Coaches Group announces 2020 All-America Teams". Team USA. April 17, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
21. "2020 NWCA Division I First Team All-Americans" (PDF). National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA).
22. Slackman, Samuel. "NCAA grants extra year of eligibility to winter sport student-athletes". The Daily Targum. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
23. "Gophers wrestlers face first test of season at No. 4 Nebraska". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
24. "Biography - Gable Steveson, MN". www.usawmembership.com. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
25. "'Refreshed' Gable Steveson seeking spot at world championships". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
26. "One-on-One with Gable Steveson". InterMat. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
27. Smith, Earl (2018-07-11). "Fargo Individual Champions in the Last 10 Years". The Open Mat. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
28. "Gable Steveson Concludes Junior World Championships". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
29. "Gable Steveson wins 2017 UWW Junior Freestyle Nationals at 120 kg". themat.tv. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
30. "2018 Marine Corps U.S. Open Wrestling Preview". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
31. "Apple Valley's Gable Steveson finishes fourth in U.S. Open wrestling tournament". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
32. "125kg World Team Trials Preview: It's Coon's Year". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
33. "Why Gable Steveson Will Be A Force At WTT". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
34. "Can Gable Steveson Become A Teenaged World Champ?". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
35. "Final X: Rutgers men's freestyle championship series preview". Team USA. June 4, 2019.
36. "Smith Earns World Team Spot While Steveson Falls at Final X". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
37. "Steveson takes silver on final day of Medved International". The Guillotine. 2019-08-12. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
38. "Gross dominates in Bill Farrell finals, five more wrestlers qualify for Olympic Team Trials". Team USA. November 16, 2019.
39. "Gable Steveson qualifies for Olympic Trials but is still suspended from Gophers wrestling". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
40. Goodwin, Cody. "USA Wrestling announces that 2020 Olympic Trials are postponed". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
41. "Gable Steveson vs Trent Hillger Set For Beat The Streets On September 17th". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
42. "See the results for the 2020 Beat the Streets Matches Live wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
43. "RTC Cup Lineups | Virginia Tech Wrestling Board". Virginia Tech Wrestling Board. November 18, 2020.
44. "Spartan Combat RTC and Cliff Keen WC advance to semifinals on FloWrestling's RTC Cup". Team USA. December 4, 2020.
45. "See the results for the FloWrestling: 2020 RTC Cup Presented by Titan Mercury Wrestling Club wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved 2020-12-24.

External links

• Gable Steveson at United World Wrestling