NWCA Wrestling Hall of Fame Release
Two former Eastern Illinois wrestlers were among the eight selected as part of this year's Jim Koch NCAA Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame announced on Friday by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA).
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Dave Klemm and Geno Savegnago, both former NCAA National Champions and Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, were among the eight selected for the Class of 2025
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Dave Klemm (1976-80)
A former NCAA national heavyweight champion in wrestling, ranks as EIU's most honored competitor in that weight classification. Competing during one of the Panthers most illustrious success periods (1976-80), Klemm helped guide EIU to thirty two consecutive dual victories and top five team finishes in the NCAA Division II championships all four years. Klemm began his collegiate career on a high note being named "Outstanding Freshman Heavyweight" by Amateur Wrestling news in 1977, after capturing the NCAA Division II title.  He then went on to place second in that competition in 1980, third in 1979 as well as capturing second in the 1979 NCAA Division I championships. He closed out his collegiate career by representing the United States in 1980 in the World Wrestling Championships and later took fifth in the 1983 U.S. Open Freestyle Championships. A four-time All-American selection, he finished his career with a 129-23 record and at one time had records for most pins in a season (24) and career (54). Klemm was inducted into EIU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
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Geno Savegnago (1978-82)
Savegnago is the Panthers most successful wrestler ever earning four NCAA Division I All-American honors, a significant feat since Eastern Illinois was still affiliated with Division II in those days. His best season was 1981 when he was 42-3 with 21 pins, won the NCAA Division II National Championship and finished third in NCAA Division I at 190 lbs. The 42 wins and 21 pins are second most in a single season. Overall, he held the school record with 131 wins (131-25) and was No. 2 on the career pin list with 45.  In 1979 Savegnago was second in NCAA II and 8th in NCAA I, again in 1980 he was 2nd in NCAA II and fifth in NCAA I and in 1982 was sixth in NCAA I. Altogether he earned seven All-American honors in NCAA I & II and led the Panthers to second place in the NCAA II national championships in 1979 and 1981, and third in 1980. Savegnago was inducted into EIU's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
