About The Dual
“THE DUAL” is a multi-episode documentary featuring a classic college wrestling dual meet that originally aired live on Iowa Public Television in 1986.
This docuseries showcases the 8-time consecutive NCAA Champion Iowa Hawkeyes, coached by the iconic Dan Gable. On February 23, 1986, the Hawks took on in-state rival Iowa State Cyclones, coached by 26-year-old Jim Gibbons in his first season of coaching the Cyclones.
All ten matches that fateful day were highly contested. Now, 35 years later, we take a look back at the legacy of this event, through interviews with the athletes, coaches and the media.
All 6 Episodes Streaming NOW on These Platforms
Episode Guide
Episode 01: Wrong Place, Wrong Time
It’s February 1986. The stage is set in Ames. Dan Gable and the Iowa Hawkeyes have been dominating college wrestling for nearly a decade. Iowa State’s Jim Gibbons is in his first season at 26 years old and is one of the youngest head coaches of all time. Both former NCAA Champions at Iowa State, Gibbons and Gable share a fateful car ride in rural Utah exactly one year prior to The Dual. An unlikely hero gets things started with a BANG!
Runtime 58:15
Episode 03: Falderal
Childhood friends and former Iowa High School State Champions Royce Alger (Lisbon) and Bill Tate Jr. (Waterloo) face each other as cross state rivals at the highest level. Tate is in the best month of his Cyclone career in a ‘wild one’ against Alger, who ultimately goes on to become a two-time NCAA Champion. #1 vs #2 also face off at 150 with four-time All Americans Tim Krieger and Jim Heffernan, both NCAA Champions. Another legendary installment of the Krieger-Heffernan rivalry who faced each other 7 times in college.
Runtime 52:58
Episode 05: You Gotta Love It
Ed Banach’s protégés: “The Rose Bowl Center” vs. “The Transfer” for the W. The Dual concludes, but the story continues as records are broken and history is made. Sports Illustrated is on the college wrestling beat in Ames with a young fact checker who goes by “Ivan”. “The Van Ride” presents a fork in the road with two very different destinations. Frank Gifford interviews Dan Gable and the greatest college wrestling team of all time is contemplated by Shane Sparks.
Runtime 75:11
Episode 02: Great Call Phil
The Spladle Master meets The Flea for the 1st time. The Gibbons Brothers face stiff competition. #1 Iowa vs #2 Iowa State action continues at 126, 134, and 142 while The Flea and defending Big 10 champion Matt Egeland get a ‘Gable work-out’ in during The Dual at Hilton Coliseum. Referee Phil Henning is faced with some tough calls.
Runtime 58:26
Episode 04: Best Show on Earth
The Hawks surge as The Machine (Iowa’s Marty Kistler) faces off against ISU’s Mike VanArsdale (eventual UFC World Title Contender) in another match up of NCAA Champions. The Baltimore Butcher (Rico Chiapparelli) makes an appearance. National Champs clash at 190 with Duane Goldman (Iowa) and Eric Voelker (Iowa State). The Dual is up for grabs.
Runtime 55:56
Episode 06: Bonus Points
The coaches recap The Dual and everyone returns to recount additional events and stories from 1986. Lessons for a lifetime learned and carried forward.
Runtime 33:47
Episode Guide
Episode 01: Wrong Place, Wrong Time
It’s February 1986. The stage is set in Ames. Dan Gable and the Iowa Hawkeyes have been dominating college wrestling for nearly a decade. Iowa State’s Jim Gibbons is in his first season at 26 years old and is one of the youngest head coaches of all time. Both former NCAA Champions at Iowa State, Gibbons and Gable share a fateful car ride in rural Utah exactly one year prior to The Dual. An unlikely hero gets things started with a BANG!
Runtime 58:15
Episode 02: Great Call Phil
The Spladle Master meets The Flea for the 1st time. The Gibbons Brothers face stiff competition. #1 Iowa vs #2 Iowa State action continues at 126, 134, and 142 while The Flea and defending Big 10 champion Matt Egeland get a ‘Gable work-out’ in during The Dual at Hilton Coliseum. Referee Phil Henning is faced with some tough calls.
Runtime 58:26
Episode 03: Falderal
Childhood friends and former Iowa High School State Champions Royce Alger (Lisbon) and Bill Tate Jr. (Waterloo) face each other as cross state rivals at the highest level. Tate is in the best month of his Cyclone career in a ‘wild one’ against Alger, who ultimately goes on to become a two-time NCAA Champion. #1 vs #2 also face off at 150 with four-time All Americans Tim Krieger and Jim Heffernan, both NCAA Champions. Another legendary installment of the Krieger-Heffernan rivalry who faced each other 7 times in college.
Runtime 52:58
Episode 04: Best Show on Earth
The Hawks surge as The Machine (Iowa’s Marty Kistler) faces off against ISU’s Mike VanArsdale (eventual UFC World Title Contender) in another match up of NCAA Champions. The Baltimore Butcher (Rico Chiapparelli) makes an appearance. National Champs clash at 190 with Duane Goldman (Iowa) and Eric Voelker (Iowa State). The Dual is up for grabs.
Runtime 55:56
Episode 05: You Gotta Love It
Ed Banach’s protégés: “The Rose Bowl Center” vs. “The Transfer” for the W. The Dual concludes, but the story continues as records are broken and history is made. Sports Illustrated is on the college wrestling beat in Ames with a young fact checker who goes by “Ivan”. “The Van Ride” presents a fork in the road with two very different destinations. Frank Gifford interviews Dan Gable and the greatest college wrestling team of all time is contemplated by Shane Sparks.
Runtime 75:11
Episode 06: Bonus Points
The coaches recap The Dual and everyone returns to recount additional events and stories from 1986. Lessons for a lifetime learned and carried forward.
Runtime 33:47
February 23, 1986
#1 Iowa vs #2 Iowa State
Iowa
Dan Gable Iowa Hawkeyes Head Coach
- 1972 Olympic Champion
- 2x NCAA Champion at ISU
- 3x All American
- 10th Season 172-6-2
- Defending 8x Consecutive
NCAA Team Champions
Iowa State
Jim Gibbons ISU Cyclones Head Coach
- NCAA Champion at ISU
- 3x All American
- 1st Season 18-1
Mark Johnson Assistant Coach
- 1980 Olympian
- 2x NCAA Finalist
- 4th Season at Iowa
Keith Mourlam Assistant Coach
- Big 10 Champ
- NCAA Finalist at Iowa
- 2x USWF National Champ
- 2nd Season at Iowa
Barry Davis Assistant Coach
- 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
- 3x Big 10 Champ
- 4x All American
- 3x NCAA Champ at Iowa
- 2nd Season at Iowa
Ed Banach Assistant Coach
- 1984 Olympic Champion
- 4x Big 10 Champ
- 3x NCAA Champ at Iowa
- 1st Season at ISU
Les Anderson Assistant Coach
-
3x NCAA Finalist
-
2x NCAA Champ at ISU
-
20th Season at ISU
Kevin Darkus Assistant Coach
- 1985 World Silver Medalist
- 3x Big 8 Champ
- 3x All American
- NCAA Champ at ISU
- 1st Season at ISU
Matt Egeland
Brad Penrith
Greg Randall
Kevin Dresser
Jim Heffernan
Royce Alger
Marty Kistler
Rico Chiapparelli
Duane Goldman
Mark Sindlinger
Perry Summitt
Bill Kelly
Jeff Gibbons
Joe Gibbons
Tim Krieger
Bill Tate Jr.
Mike VanArsdale
Bob Gassman
Eric Voelker
John Heropoulos
Iowa Hawkeyes
Head Coach:
Dan Gable
- 1972 Olympic Champion
- 2x NCAA Champion at ISU
- 3x All American
- 10th Season 172-6-2
- Defending 8x Consecutive
NCAA Team Champions
Assistant Coaches:
Mark Johnson
- 1980 Olympian
- 2x NCAA Finalist
- 4th Season at Iowa
Keith Mourlam
- Big 10 Champ
- NCAA Finalist at Iowa
- 2x USWF National Champ
- 2nd Season at Iowa
Barry Davis
- 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist
- 3x Big 10 Champ
- 4x All American
- 3x NCAA Champ at Iowa
- 2nd Season at Iowa
Iowa Wrestlers
Matt Egeland
- Big 10 Champ
- NCAA Finalist
Brad Penrith
- 3x Big 10 Champ, O.W.
- 3x NCAA Finalist
- NCAA Champ
Greg Randall
- Big 10 Champ
- 2x NCAA Finalist
- 3x All American
Kevin Dresser
- 2x Big 10 Champ
- 2x All American
- NCAA Champ
Jim Heffernan
- 4x Big 10 Champ
- 4x All American
- NCAA Champ
Royce Alger
- 3x Big 10 Champ, 2x O.W.
- 3x All American
- 2x NCAA Champ
Marty Kistler
- 3x Big 10 Champ
- 3x NCAA Finalist
- 2x NCAA Champ, O.W.
Rico Chiapparelli
- 3x Big 10 Champ
- 3x All American
- NCAA Champ
Duane Goldman
- 4x Big 10 Champ
- 4x NCAA Finalist
- NCAA Champ
Mark Sindlinger
- 2x Big 10 Champ
- 2x All American
Iowa State Cyclones
Head Coach:
Jim Gibbons
- NCAA Champion at ISU
- 3x All American
- 1st Season 18-1
Assistant Coaches:
Ed Banach
- 1984 Olympic Champion
- 4x Big 10 Champ
- 3x NCAA Champ at Iowa
- 1st Season at ISU
Les Anderson
-
3x NCAA Finalist
-
2x NCAA Champ at ISU
-
20th Season at ISU
Kevin Darkus
- 1985 World Silver Medalist
- 3x Big 8 Champ
- 3x All American
- NCAA Champ at ISU
- 1st Season at ISU
Iowa State Wrestlers
Perry Summitt
- Big 8 Finalist
- 2x NCAA Qual
Bill Kelly
- 3x Big 8 Finalist
- 2x Big 8 Champ
- NCAA Champ
Jeff Gibbons
- Big 8 Champ, O.W.
- 2x All American
Joe Gibbons
- 2x Big 8 Champ
- 4x All American
- NCAA Champ
Tim Krieger
- 4x Big 8 Champ
- 4x All American
- 2x NCAA Champ, O.W.
Bill Tate Jr.
- Big 8 Champ
- 2x NCAA Qual
Mike VanArsdale
- Big 8 Champ
- 3x All American
- NCAA Champ
Bob Gassman
- Big 8 Finalist
- 2x NCAA Qual
Eric Voelker
- 3x Big 8 Champ
- 3x All American
- 2x NCAA Champ
- Gorriaran Award
John Heropoulos
- Big 8 Finalist
- NCAA Finalist
Mission Statement
The Dual Foundation
The Dual Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
Our mission is to support and recognize organizations, communities and individuals who are advancing, promoting and coaching the sport of amateur wrestling.
Contact
Get in touch with us at TheDual1986@gmail.com
"The Dual" is now available on streaming!
All six episodes of "The Dual" are available to stream on Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV.