Dan Gable spoke at Highland Elementary in Riverside December 18. Photo by Sam McIntosh.

Whether you cheer on opposing sports teams or live on opposite ends of the map, legendary wrestling olympian and coach Dan Gable emphasized the importance of respect at the Highland Elementary School Monday.

The former University of Iowa wrestling coach and Iowa City resident spoke to students about growing up in Waterloo, and the importance of not just being a good athlete but also a good student. Highland Elementary P.E. and Health teacher Clay Eaton commented on Gable’s presentation, “It’s great. It’s just a good motivator for kids to do their best and try hard. And obviously he promotes being active, and I’m a big fan of wrestling and he promotes that as well so that’s an added bonus.”

Gable encouraged learning skills such as swimming, and advised the children to look up to mentors and surround themselves with positive people. After giving the presentation Gable said he has a greater appreciation for teachers, “When you’re dealing with kids that really are so impressionable you can really be an impressionable person on them, and I can tell a lot of times that what I said was really going in and not coming out actually and they were staying in there.”

After visiting the elementary building Gable spoke with grades 6-12 at the high school and with the wrestling team. Gable has recently been promoting his latest book A Wrestling Life 2 with a book signing tour at Casey’s General Stores across Iowa, including Washington.