Wrestling: Montini wins Dvorak, Providence’s Eddie Klimara makes history

Updated: December 23, 2011 9:44PM

MACHESNEY PARK — Eddie Klimara scrambled his way into the history books Friday when he joined former Providence teammate Edwin Cooper as the only four-time Dvorak Memorial wrestling champ.

Klimara beat Iowa state champ Jack Hathaway of Iowa City West 7-2 at 126 pounds, but four of those points came in the final four seconds. He led 3-2 when Hathaway got in tight on a single leg with 45 seconds left. When Klimara refused to go down, Hathaway tried for a cradle. Klimara almost put Hathaway on his back, then Hathaway almost got behind Klimara, but both wound up on their feet at the end.

“I couldn’t believe he did that,” Klimara said of the standing cradle attempt. “It was an epic scramble.”

“It was all a blur,” Hathaway said. “I should have had it, but Eddie is hard to score on.”

Montini won its fourth Dvorak team title in six years with 205.5 points. Marist finished second with 182.5.

“We want to dominate,” Montini coach Israel Martinez said. “We want to open the gap and prove to everybody that no matter what division we’re in, we’re the best.”

Marist was the only team out of the top seven without an individual champ, but led all schools with 10 place-winners. The RedHawks haven’t reached state as a team since 1997, and will have to get past No. 1-ranked Sandburg at regionals to reach the dual-meet format.

“We have to beat Sandburg sometime, and it’s good we have an opportunity to get them early,” Marist coach Brendan Heffernan said. “That’s what we found out here, that we’re a good enough tournament team.”

Ten of the 14 No. 1 seeds won titles. Two of the upsets were pulled by Lockport teammates Shaun’Qae McMurtry at 160 and Brad Johnson at 195. McMurtry beat Iowa City West’s Justin Koethe, ranked seventh nationally, and Johnson beat Crystal Lake Central’s Gage Harrah in a matchup of defending Class 2A and 3A state champs.

“Me and Shaun’Qae, we’re probably the closest on the team,” Johnson said. “We’ve been through thick and thin. He’s my pre-meet drill partner. We definitely have a bond. He’s on my football team. He’s wrestled with me all his life. We both wanted it.’’

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