University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
149 lbs.
/ Wrestling
133 lbs.
/ Wrestling
149 lbs.
/ Wrestling
125 lbs.
/ Wrestling
133 lbs./141 lbs.
/ Wrestling
285 lbs.
/ Wrestling
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gable Steveson Previews the 2021 Season
1/7/2021 1:13:00 PM | Wrestling
Gable Steveson has been one of the most prolific wrestlers in the country. Wherever Gable goes, the camera has followed, and after an exciting offseason that included knocking off the No.1 freestyle heavyweight in the country Nick Gwizdowski, Gable is now set to toe the line once again at the collegiate level.
In this installation of "Going for Gold w/ Gable", we caught up with the man himself to preview this upcoming season, talk about his expectations for this year's squad, and how he plans to finally get what he believes is rightfully his: An NCAA title.
GS: Obviously, it's been a long-awaited season. The schedule just got announced last week. What was that feeling like to finally get that news that we're back?
Gable: It feels good. I think it's been a long wait, especially with the cancellation of the NCAAs last March, but it feels good to have a schedule ready. Now, it's time for us to show up and compete.
One thing that's unique about this year's schedule is the tri-meets, throwing it back to high school a little bit. Have you thought about that and what do you think it's going to be like having a team-like atmosphere like that in a college event?
Gable: Yeah, it's cool to have tri-meets this year. Two different teams can have two different competitions on the same day. I think what it will do is bring matches to the guys that don't usually get to compete in the duals. It's cool to have the tri-meets this year, and we have some good ones coming our way, so we'll be ready.
Another thing that's unique about this year's schedule as well is that there's no non-conference matches. However, you've said in the past that the B1G is the premiere wrestling conference. Would you agree with the statement that there's an advantage to wrestling in this conference as opposed to contenders in other conferences who won't be able to wrestle as much high-level competition until NCAAs?
Gable: Yeah, I definitely think there's an advantage to wrestling in the B1G and wrestling in the B1G schedule. The conference tournament at the end of the year is just like wrestling in the NCAAs. Of course, other conferences have some guys, but I feel like for certain weight classes, the B1G dominates the rankings, and so being able to go through our schedule and wrestling these guys and seeing them once or twice before the NCAA tournament plays a big factor, so I definitely think that the B1G is the spot to be.
Obviously, you've had the opportunity to wrestle some individual matches this off-season but it's your first competition with the team in a while? Overall, what expectations do you have for this team for the upcoming season?
Gable: We have a good team this year. We have a lot of the same guys we had last year. Hopefully, we can capitalize better and end up in a better spot than we were last year. I think this year, things are going to change. We're going to a lot of guys on our team step up to the plate and cement their spot in the starting lineup. We're ready, the guys are ready. It's just a matter of who's going to step on the line and give their best effort.
Who are some guys on this team that you would tell fans to watch out for this year?
Gable: I think there's a lot of guys. Michael Blockhus, he's a guy that's in the rankings, but he's not really heard of by a lot of fans since he wrestled outside of the B1G last season. He's gonna turn some heads this year. Patrick McKee, he's always going to do his thing. Boo Dryden is another one. He's finally been with us for a full year, so he has a year of Division-1 training under his belt. Transferring from JUCO to the B1G is not easy to do, so I think he's getting acclimated to it now. Brayon Lee is going to do what Brayton Lee does. Marcos Polanco, I think he's going to start for us this year so fans are going to have to watch out for him. I just think in general, Minnesota is going to have an exciting squad, so I think it's going to be exciting to see who can turn some heads and make the fans pay attention to what they do.
Let's talk about the heavyweight weight class. It seems like it has received the most hype that it has gotten in years. Just talk about that feeling of being able to headline that weight class and possibly having high-profile matches this year?
Gable: It's a cool thing. I'm always practicing to be the best, and I know that there's a lot of guys that are trying to chase me and hit the target on my back. I'm trying to make sure that they don't ever hit that target, I know they won't, but it is cool. I think that I've done a good job of getting people excited for matches, and building these super-matches with other heavyweight competitors. There's some other good heavyweights out there. I've always said I worry about myself and do my own thing, but when the time comes to see them, I'm always going to step up to the plate and I'll keep doing it again and again.
Last year, after Big Tens, you thought you thought your next matches would be for an NCAA title. Instead, your next college match isn't taking place until 10 months later. Is there a sense of unfinished business with you, or is it just onto the next thing for you?
Gable: No, it's unfinished business. I deserved my NCAA title last year, I proved my point to everybody last year. I beat the top guys in dominating fashion, I did what it takes to be the champion. This year, it's going to be a repeat. I know I need to maintain my composure and just keep doing what I did last year, but this year I feel like I'm a different animal. An animal has risen out of me, and it's time to win it again.
On Twitter, you said that the year 2021 was going to change your life. What exactly does this upcoming year look like for you?
Gable: Being a champion.
In this installation of "Going for Gold w/ Gable", we caught up with the man himself to preview this upcoming season, talk about his expectations for this year's squad, and how he plans to finally get what he believes is rightfully his: An NCAA title.
GS: Obviously, it's been a long-awaited season. The schedule just got announced last week. What was that feeling like to finally get that news that we're back?
Gable: It feels good. I think it's been a long wait, especially with the cancellation of the NCAAs last March, but it feels good to have a schedule ready. Now, it's time for us to show up and compete.
One thing that's unique about this year's schedule is the tri-meets, throwing it back to high school a little bit. Have you thought about that and what do you think it's going to be like having a team-like atmosphere like that in a college event?
Gable: Yeah, it's cool to have tri-meets this year. Two different teams can have two different competitions on the same day. I think what it will do is bring matches to the guys that don't usually get to compete in the duals. It's cool to have the tri-meets this year, and we have some good ones coming our way, so we'll be ready.
Another thing that's unique about this year's schedule as well is that there's no non-conference matches. However, you've said in the past that the B1G is the premiere wrestling conference. Would you agree with the statement that there's an advantage to wrestling in this conference as opposed to contenders in other conferences who won't be able to wrestle as much high-level competition until NCAAs?
Gable: Yeah, I definitely think there's an advantage to wrestling in the B1G and wrestling in the B1G schedule. The conference tournament at the end of the year is just like wrestling in the NCAAs. Of course, other conferences have some guys, but I feel like for certain weight classes, the B1G dominates the rankings, and so being able to go through our schedule and wrestling these guys and seeing them once or twice before the NCAA tournament plays a big factor, so I definitely think that the B1G is the spot to be.
Obviously, you've had the opportunity to wrestle some individual matches this off-season but it's your first competition with the team in a while? Overall, what expectations do you have for this team for the upcoming season?
Gable: We have a good team this year. We have a lot of the same guys we had last year. Hopefully, we can capitalize better and end up in a better spot than we were last year. I think this year, things are going to change. We're going to a lot of guys on our team step up to the plate and cement their spot in the starting lineup. We're ready, the guys are ready. It's just a matter of who's going to step on the line and give their best effort.
Who are some guys on this team that you would tell fans to watch out for this year?
Gable: I think there's a lot of guys. Michael Blockhus, he's a guy that's in the rankings, but he's not really heard of by a lot of fans since he wrestled outside of the B1G last season. He's gonna turn some heads this year. Patrick McKee, he's always going to do his thing. Boo Dryden is another one. He's finally been with us for a full year, so he has a year of Division-1 training under his belt. Transferring from JUCO to the B1G is not easy to do, so I think he's getting acclimated to it now. Brayon Lee is going to do what Brayton Lee does. Marcos Polanco, I think he's going to start for us this year so fans are going to have to watch out for him. I just think in general, Minnesota is going to have an exciting squad, so I think it's going to be exciting to see who can turn some heads and make the fans pay attention to what they do.
Let's talk about the heavyweight weight class. It seems like it has received the most hype that it has gotten in years. Just talk about that feeling of being able to headline that weight class and possibly having high-profile matches this year?
Gable: It's a cool thing. I'm always practicing to be the best, and I know that there's a lot of guys that are trying to chase me and hit the target on my back. I'm trying to make sure that they don't ever hit that target, I know they won't, but it is cool. I think that I've done a good job of getting people excited for matches, and building these super-matches with other heavyweight competitors. There's some other good heavyweights out there. I've always said I worry about myself and do my own thing, but when the time comes to see them, I'm always going to step up to the plate and I'll keep doing it again and again.
Last year, after Big Tens, you thought you thought your next matches would be for an NCAA title. Instead, your next college match isn't taking place until 10 months later. Is there a sense of unfinished business with you, or is it just onto the next thing for you?
Gable: No, it's unfinished business. I deserved my NCAA title last year, I proved my point to everybody last year. I beat the top guys in dominating fashion, I did what it takes to be the champion. This year, it's going to be a repeat. I know I need to maintain my composure and just keep doing what I did last year, but this year I feel like I'm a different animal. An animal has risen out of me, and it's time to win it again.
On Twitter, you said that the year 2021 was going to change your life. What exactly does this upcoming year look like for you?
Gable: Being a champion.
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Highlights: Big Ten Wrestling Session I
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Highlights: Gophers 37, Michigan State 6
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