Ralph “Gabe” Gabriel

Gabe started wrestling in 1973 at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse NY.  He then wrestled at SUNY Potsdam from 1979-1982.  He coached at SUNY Potsdam as a graduate assistant then at Potsdam High School and Norwich High School before moving to Tennessee in 1985.

In Nashville, Gabe started the wrestling program at Meigs Magnet Middle School and in three seasons, won their first the city championship and continued to dominate the Nashville Middle School Wrestling League until 1993 when Gabe became the head coach at John Overton High School in Nashville TN.

At JOHS his teams won 16 District titles and 5 runner-up, 10 Region Dual titles and 4 runner-up, 10 Region Individual titles and 4 runner-up, 2 State individual Team titles and 1 Dual Team Title and over 400 career wins in 22 seasons.  His wrestler’s individual accolades consist of 1 NCAA All-American, 1 HS National Champion, 6 HS All-Americans, 2 TN State Outstanding Wrestlers, 12 TN State Champions, 25 State Finalists, and 60 State Place winners.

Gabe is the only Nashville Public Schools wrestling coach and one of only two Middle TN Public School coaches to have won wrestling State team titles.  His JOHS team was ranked 14th in the USA in 1997 and Gabe was the NHSWA Southeastern Coach of the Year and a National Coach of the Year finalist.  He was TN Coach of the Year 2x’s and Region Coach of the Year 5x’s.

Gabe continues to contribute to the wrestling community as the coach at Hendersonville High School.  When not coaching he has served on wrestling scholarship committees, sponsored wrestling clinics, co-founded the Copperhead USAW Wrestling Club and was a USAW class 2 referee.