Gable Steveson has always been known for his dominance on the mat. But recently, after a significant loss for his team, the spotlight shifted back onto the heavyweight phenom. While the Minnesota Gophers took a tough loss to Iowa, Steveson himself kept his perfect record intact, continuing his streak of destruction. The dual meet saw Steveson handling his opponent with ease, but unfortunately, his individual success couldn’t spark a team turnaround. So, what does this mean for the legacy of one of NCAA’s most dominant wrestlers?

On February 17th, Big10Wrestling shared a statement that perfectly captures Gable Steveson’s career so far: “He doesn’t just beat guys. He destroys guys.” 🗣️ @ShaneSparksBTN echoed this sentiment, reflecting on Steveson’s massive impact on the Gophers since his last loss in 2019. This claim is not just fluff—it’s backed by raw facts, with Steveson showing no signs of slowing down despite the team’s rough patch.

The debate now lies in whether Steveson’s individual brilliance can make up for the struggles of his team. Minnesota’s recent defeat against Iowa didn’t tarnish Steveson’s image, but it’s clear his teammates face significant challenges. While Steveson stays unbeaten in dual meets, there has been a lot on his riding on his shoulders. His perfect 59-0 record in dual meets, along with a series of dominant tech falls, speaks volumes about his capability, but can one wrestler turn the tide for a whole team?

Despite his personal success, Gable Steveson has had to watch as the Gophers fall short in several team battles, including this most recent 23-11 loss against Iowa. The battle might have been tough for the team, but it wasn’t tough for Gable Steveson, who finished with a 19-3 tech fall over No. 11 Ben Kueter, showcasing why he’s considered one of the best in the world. His continued dominance raises the question: Can his success rub off on the rest of his team?

Gophers has to be more than a one-man show

Gable Steveson is a mean machine on the mat. Any second thoughts on this? No? -We thought so too. But that doesn’t mean that the fate of the whole Gophers’ wrestling team can ride on his wave of success. Steveson’s winning streak is a well maintained and well polished record since March 2019, unbeaten. Even the Gophers’ winning streak is largely attributed to Steveson. Hence, the Gophers’ subsequent poor performance in other weight classes Gophers served as a rude awakening that the Midas touch could end, too. 

There’s no denying that Gable Steveson’s impact on the mat is indisputable. But he isn’t the only star studded cast member that the Gophers’ have to boast. With Steveson’s eligibility slated to end with the NCAA 2024-2025 wrestling season, the Gophers’ need some serious tending to do on their form in other weight classes. However, Steveson cannot be the only torch bearer for the Gophers Wrestling program. The Gophers still have another prodigy ranking at #4 in the 184-pound category. We’re talking about Max McEnelly. 

While the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling program may have gotten the best end of the stick, their #8 Gabe Arnold stands defeated by Max McEnelly when McEnelly went for Arnold’s leg. Arnold’s defeat looked too easy but that’s become the norm and commonality between Steveson and McEnelly. The Gophers are still picking up the pieces from the shattering defeat dealt to Cooper Flynn, Tyler Wells, Drew Roberts, Tommy Askey, Clayton Whiting, and Isaiah Salazar. Did we get all the names from the Gophers wrestling list? Yup, we did. 

Do you get the gist? Gable Steveson maybe undefeatable and he will continue to be so. Max McEnelly is writing his own saga. But the Gophers’ need to pick up pace now, especially when the NCAA Wrestling season is just around the corner. The fate of the Minnesota Gophers Wrestling program cannot be born by Steveson and McEnelly alone. While these two maybe their poster boys, not much time is left for Gable as a Gopher.

How do you think Coach Brandon Eggum is planning to turn this around? Tell us in the comments below.