Dan Gable, John Irving, Billy Baldwin Nov 2 in Santa Monica

[OldSchool]

Dan Gable, Jon Irving, Billy Baldwin speaking at luncheon at the Georgian Hotel, Santa Monica, California. The lucheon will start at 11:30 AM. Article below from Intermat Wrestling dated Oct. 31

OldSchool



Irving, Baldwin, Gable: "California needs wrestling"

10/31/2009
Tammy Tedesco, NWCA
SANTA MONICA -- Author John Irving and actor Billy Baldwin will join Olympic wrestling legend Dan Gable at a luncheon on Monday, Nov. 2, in support of the California Needs Wrestling initiative.

The three will speak to the need for supporters of the sport to mount an effort to sustain college wrestling programs in California, where the state budget crisis has left many collegiate programs in dire need of funding.

Irving, a University of Pittsburgh wrestler, and Baldwin, a Binghamton University Wrestler, who was instrumental in bringing wrestling back at Binghamton University after the sport was dropped, will speak to the role of the sport in helping to shape their lives.

Irving, whose novels include The World According to Garp and Cider House Rules, was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1992. He is currently touring to promote his new book, Last Night in Twisted River.

Baldwin joined the crusade to restore wrestling at his alma mater after the university announced it was dropping the sport in 2003. With the help of Friends of Binghamton Wrestling and New York's then-Gov. George Pataki, the program was restored the following year. Last March, Baldwin was on hand to applaud Binghamton's first Division I All-American, Josh Patterson.

Gable has devoted his life to the sport as an athlete, coach and advocate. A 1972 Olympic freestyle wrestling champion, he went on to coach the University of Iowa to an unprecedented 15 NCAA team championships and is now Iowa's assistant athletic director.

"Wrestling in California needs our help," said Gable. "There are approximately 27,000 high school wrestlers in the state of California and only eight four-year college wrestling programs to support the exploding interest at the high school level. These programs are fighting to survive as California has already lost 85 college programs."

The luncheon is being held to:

-Provide head college wrestling coaches in California with an opportunity to cultivate some of their most important alumni/donors and or key decision-making university administrators. This is particularly important in light of the current state budget crisis in the state of California.

-Help college administrators recognize the educational value of wrestling through the testimonials of highly successful wrestling aficionados.

-Promote the "NWCA All Star Classic, Presented by the Wrestling Alumni of the College of William and Mary," scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton. The event is a fundraiser for the Cal State Fullerton wrestling program.

The wrestling alumni from William and Mary have established the non-profit Society for the Preservation of Traditional Sport (SPOTS). Its mission is to help save wrestling and other traditional Olympic sport programs before such programs are cut.

[Coach Lawson]

Why didn't they mention his book about wrestling-----The Imaginary Girlfriend.

Pretty good read.


Later,
Lawson


alright, alright, I had my wiferead a chapter a night to me until it was done!

[Aztec]

Was this a closed event? I would have liked to known about it before hand. I might have been able to make it.

[coachnashXVI]

The World According to Garp is one of the ten best books I've ever read. Until I Find You is also a great read, and The 158 Pound Marriage ain't bad either. John Irving is a legend.

[Coach Vicarious]

"Trying to Save Piggy Sneed" buy this book and you get "Imaginary Girlfriend" and other short stories. Irving, top 10 on my list of authors.

[CAGWA]

Originally Posted by Aztec

Was this a closed event? I would have liked to known about it before hand. I might have been able to make it.

NWCA president Mike Moyer sent out invitations via email to all college coaches in California. From the D1 level to the JC's. They were also allowed to bring 3 guest of their choosing but were encouraged to invite AD's and other staff.

If I remember correctly the schools who attended with AD's were Stanford, and Fullerton.
Also in attendance were the D1 coaches from UC Davis, Cal Baptist, UC Slo, Bakersfield. No JC coach attended.

[Aztec]

That makes sense. Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.