Kratovil, Harper crowned national champs
The Harper College wrestling season ended Saturday in the best way possible: with the Hawks bringing home the NJCAA national champioinship from Des Moines, Iowa.
The Hawks are the first non-scholarship school to win the national championship. Iowa Central had won the last four national tournaments.
Harper finished with 137 points, ahead of Iowa Central (116) and Labette Community College (Kan.).
"We wrestled out of our minds," said Hawks coach Dan Loprieno, who was named NJCAA coach of the year.
The Hawks won 17 matches in a row starting with Friday's matches, and the streak carried into the first five matches Saturday.
"We just couldn't do anything wrong on Friday," Loprieno said.
Josh Kratovil (141 pounds) was the lone Hawk to win an individual championship.
After not finishing his prep career quite the way he had wanted. Kratovil was out to change things at the college level.
"I did not want to lose at all - I was in my own world," Kratovil said.
Harper's next-best individual finish came from Arber Bebo, who lost in the semifinals at 184.
"He is one of the workhorses on the team" Kratovil said.
Harper had eight wrestlers earn All-American honors. In addition to Kratovil and Bebo, they are:
• Eduardo Dominguez (Mundelein), fourth place at 125 pounds
• Nate Stadeker, fourth at 149
• Luke Roth, second at 157
• Mike Dace (Grant), fourth at 165
• Jordan Bakley (Huntley), fourth at 174
• Bebo (Addison Trail), sixth at 184
• Michael Lukowski (Dundee-Crown), sixth at 187.
Twelve of the Hawks' victories came by pin, giving them 25 bonus points.
"Every guy on the team wrestled out of their mind," Loprieno said.
Four of the Hawks' All-Americans return for the 2010-2011 season.
"That's how you win - by having sophomores in your room," Loprieno said.