Darrel Gholar American Gladiator Contender 1988 Olympic Alternate

[fishbane]

Darrel Gholar was a contender on series 3 of American Gladiators in 1991 (May have been filmed in 1990).  He won a couple rounds and ultimately fell short in the semi finals to a baker from Brooklyn.  He handed Gladiator Nitro his only loss of the season in the conquer ring in his semi final loss.  Conquer is a modified wrestling competition where the contender has 10s to force any portion of the gladiator outside of the circular competition area.  I think this is interpreted as some body part of the touching the ground outside of the area and not a 3D cylinder. Nitro was 5-0 in the conquer ring in season 3 before losing to Gholar.  In the episode the announces play up Gholar's wrestling ability describing him as a wrestling coach from Minneapolis, MN and greco roman olympic alternate in 1988.

I found some collegiate results for him from the University of Minnesota.  He was 3rd at Big Tens at 158 in 1983 and Big Ten runner up at 167 in 1984.  He was the 10 seed at NCAAs in 1984, but had some bad luck.  He lost 7-1 in the second round to 3 seed and future 2x Olympian Melvin Douglas.  Douglas lost his next two matches by FFT and DNP.  In 1984 there weren't full wrestle backs and since  Gholar lost to someone who failed to make the semifinals he was not given a wrestle back.  Meanwhile the 4th place finished at Big Tens, Rudy Isom of Wisconsin, lost in the first round then won two successive consolation matches by FFT to make the podium.  

Does anyone know the story behind all the FFTs in the 1984 NCAAs at 167?  Does anyone have results from the 1988 Greco Olympic Trails?  I'd guess for him to an alternate he would have lost in the best of 3 at either 74 o2 82kgs.

If anyone is interested in his appearances on American Gladiators there are links to the full episodes below.

1st round

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkSVQLDpKc

Quarter final

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpQKRfcYdDc

Semi-final (Conquer win over Nitro)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeQrdADGs0M

 

Edited June 8, 2023 by fishbane

[LJB]

https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/7fb22adc-37f8-4693-8dff-b510317a9558/the-american-gladiators-documentary

 

[fishbane]

1 minute ago, LJB said:

https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/7fb22adc-37f8-4693-8dff-b510317a9558/the-american-gladiators-documentary

 

I had read on Wikipedia that it was created by two fellas from Erie, PA and that the first trial competition was held at Erie Tech.  One of the creators was an arm wrestler named Dann Carr. I don't believe he is related to the Carrs from Erie that are know in wrestling.  

I'll have to check out that ESPN piece.  Thanks!

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

 

9 minutes ago, LJB said:

https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/7fb22adc-37f8-4693-8dff-b510317a9558/the-american-gladiators-documentary

 

OK.  Thanks for bringing this up.  Great documentary on the American Gladiators.  Dann Carr, who is from Erie, PA, is most certainly not related to Nate, Jimmy, Solomon, etc.  However, in episode 2, as they are trying to track down Dan Carr, the crew goes to Erie Tech.  They ask an administrator if he knows who Dan Carr is.  The admin says something about "One of the wrestlers?" to which the documentarian replies "no."  This administrator is certainly referring to the Carr family that we are all familiar with, the most prolific medal winning family in NCAA Div 1 history.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

P.S. Despite a losing record, Gholar was considered somewhat of a stud in very early MMA.  Just recently Bas Rutten brought up Gholar's name on the JRE podcast.  I was thinking "there's a name that I haven't heard in a bit!'  Rutten and Rogan both commented on what a stud Gholar was.

https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Darrell-Gholar-213

[LJB]

full disclosure...

i have not watched this documentary...

but...

i do remember the feelings that these gladiators stirring in me...

 

my goodness...

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

28 minutes ago, LJB said:

full disclosure...

i have not watched this documentary...

but...

i do remember the feelings that these gladiators stirring in me...

 

my goodness...

It is definitely worth a watch.

[BuckyBadger]

That was a great show. I remember watching the episode with Gholar.

[Tripnsweep]

He also competed in a knock off show called Battle Dome which was a legit competition but had more of a pro wrestling vibe to it. The "gladiators" all had pro wrestling style characters and had a short lived cross promotion with WCW. Terry Crews was a "gladiator" on that show. 

[MPhillips]

I was all in on ZAP.

[Jason Bryant]

Storm used to hang out with us in college …

[LJB]

11 minutes ago, Jason Bryant said:

Storm used to hang out with us in college …

I made have helped Alexus get through college…