The Imaginary Girlfriend (12 page)

John Irving (on top) at 133 pounds in ‘61. Despite two undefeated dual-meet seasons, he never won a New England title. P
HOTO: ‘61
P
EAN

Larry Palmer (on top) at 121 pounds in '61—he failed to make weight at the New England Interscholastic tournament that year. In '62, six inches taller and 26 pounds heavier, Palmer won the New England Class A title at 147 pounds. (Larry Palmer is now Professer of Law at Cornell Law School.) P
HOTO: '61 PEAN

Ted Seabrooke coaching 137-pounder Al Keck in ‘61. The fans are draped on the rails of the overhanging wooden track that circumscribed “the pit” at Exeter. P
HOTO: ‘61
P
EAN

Cliff Gallagher coaching in the Exeter wrestling room in 1966. It must be before practice, because the door to the wrestling room is partially open and there are so few bodies rolling around; Cliff always came to practice early. The boy sitting on the mat must be a first-year wrestler—he's not wearing wrestling shoes. P
HOTO:
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RADFORD
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ERZOG

In the University of Iowa wrestling room, 1973: Dan Gable catches John Irving with a foot-sweep. P
HOTO:
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ARY
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INOGRAD

Irving's son Colin, a 1983 prep-school All-American for Northfield Mt. Hermon at 152 pounds—Colin was also the 160-pound New England Class A Champion in ‘83. P
HOTOGRAPHER UNKNOWN

Colin Irving completing an upper-body throw in the ‘83 New England Class A finals. Both the referee and the mat judge (upper left) are anticipating the pin. P
HOTO: C.F.N.I.

Colin driving his Exeter opponent's shoulders to the mat in the 160-pound finals. P
HOTO: C.F.N.I.

A legal headlock: the head encircled with an arm contained—in this case, Colin has his opponent's head and
both
his arms contained. Colin's pin in the finals at 1:45 of the first period won him the Ted Seabrooke Memorial Trophy for the Outstanding Wrestler in the ‘83 New England Class A tournament. P
HOTO: C.F.N.I.

Summer '84 brothers—Colin with Brendan in Bridgehampton, New York. Colin is 19, and at his heaviest—about 195 pounds. Brendan is 14; he weighs about 105 pounds. P
HOTO
M
ARY
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LLEN
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ARK

Brendan Irving (right), a tall 135-pounder with a proneness to injury: knee surgery in ‘87; reinjured the knee in ‘88; in ‘89, a separated shoulder, a torn rotator cuff, a lost front tooth, two broken fingers (right hand), mononucleosis, and a championship title. P
HOTO:
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TEVE
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RVING

Brendan (black headgear) going for the pin: between 1984 and 1989, he won over 90 percent of his matches by a fall. Brendan was captain of the Vermont Academy team in ‘89. P
HOTO:
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ANET
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RVING