Leverett Grapplers Win Crown; Weber's Win Is Victory Margin

Leverett House captured the Straus wrestling championship last night, nipping Winthrop by one point. Heavyweight Tom Weber nailed Leverett's victory with a win in the tournament's last match.

Winthrop led, 19 points to Leverett's 15, as Weber stepped on to the mat for his featured match with sophomore Jerry Ward of Lowell House. The two bearded giants battled to a 2-2 tie during the regulation five-minute match.

Ward took a one-point lead with an escape during the second of three, one-minute overtime periods, but Weber reversed him at the opening of the last period. He rode out Ward for the victory, and gave Leverett the five winning points.

Most of the wrestling was lethargic, but several bouts combined good wrestling and close scores to bring a substantial IAB crowd alive.

The 152-pound match paired Leverett's John Berman and Winthrop's Phil Emmi. Berman won, 2-1, with a reversal in the last 30 seconds of the last period.

Steve Roy of Dunster House won the 191 crown with even less time remaining. He led. 3-2, with 1:30 left in the last period, but Lowell's Tom Roberts reversed him, he reversed Roberts, and Roberts escaped to tie the match. Roy won it on a takedown with only 13 seconds left in the third overtime period.

Rachmat Kartadjoemena (123) of Kirkland House was the only 1966 champion to successfully defend the same crown. Leverett's Ed Stump won the 177 title this year, after being 167 champ last year.

Defending team champion Lowell was no threat this year. Lowell's nine points clinched third place, but Leverett and Winthrop clearly dominated.

Matthews North won the freshman title with 16 points. Matthews South with 14, finished second, followed by Thayer South at 10.

All 16 Matthews North points were guaranteed before the finals. North's Mark Pendergrast was unopposed in the 130 lb. class, and it had both finalists in the 152 match. Its other three points came from a second place finish in the 160 finals.

Freshman Ken Hurwitz (123) scored the fastest pin of the day, taking Frank Tjia of Matthews South in less than 30 seconds of the first period.

The freshman 177 match was the day's third to go into overtime. Chris Hashioka of Matthews South dominated the last half of the bout, but was unable to break a 2-2 tie with a prediciment or near pin. Hashioka finally scored a take-down and near-pin just before the end of overtime to get his win.