The Milwaukee Post

10 • Milwaukee County Post • April 13, 2018 By BRIAN HUBER Conley News Service WAUKESHA — Most peo- ple who attended the April 6 fundraiser for a statute to honor South Milwaukee's Reggie Lisowski — aka Da Crusher — went as fans to remember one of the area's unforgettable personalities. But former Waukesha Alderman Emanuele Vitale also went for another rea- son: professional courtesy. Vitale, after a Waukesha High School career that saw him become state champion diver, all-conference and sec- ond team all-state as a guard in football and also letter in track and field, wrestled pro- fessionally as Vito Martino in the American Wrestling Association, starting his career at age 42 and ending about 10 years later. After high school, and after a period as a weightlifter, Vitale said his fandom of wrestling led him to wrestling school in Chicago, where one learns the holds — and how to take the falls safely. In his wrestling days, Vito Martino grappled with the likes of Larry Hennig, Blackjack Lanza, Verne Gagne and his son Greg, Jim Brunzell, Baron von Raschke, and Da Crusher, "a couple times." "He was one strong son of a gun," Vitale, 82, recalled. "That guy was an incredible character. His interviews were terrific." He thought it "wonderful" to have an effort to honor Da Crusher with a statue in his hometown. Even though they were geographically close, Vitale said that did not automatically mean they were friends, or that they gave each other any consid- eration in the ring. "You want to win your match. You get more money," he said. Vitale said the April 6 event also served as a reunion of sorts, as he caught up with guys he wrestled with, like Brunzell and von Raschke, whose trademark move was "the Claw." "He put the Claw on you, I swear to God you thought your head was going to explode. Other than that, he wasn't a bad egg," Vitale said. He added von Raschke recalled him, and they talked about the dangers to themselves in the ring and bystanders near it when spectators threw objects. And, he said, some fans rec- ognized him, too. 'A grind' Vitale said his life as a wrestler was "a grind. Some of them guys are wrestling every night in a different town." He recalled perform- ing in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana, often working on consecutive nights. "One day I got body slammed in a stiff ring and I started coughing up blood. That's when I figured enough was enough," he said. Vitale wrestled part- time while working as a draftsman and running his own business; that was another concern that led him to exit the ring — wor- ries about being unable to complete a contract due to an injury, he said. Vitale said many of his matches were shown on TV in the Milwaukee market, but his proudest moment came in one that wasn't. But it was in Milwaukee where he and Kenny Jay faced off against the High Flyers — Brunzell and Greg Gagne. "We got defeated. They were terrific but we had a pretty good accounting of our- selves," he said. He recalled his worst injury was a concussion he got when an opponent body slammed him before he had time to brace himself for the impact. Vitale also recalled wrestling against Verne Gagne, who even into his 60s was a specimen of strength and agility — "The old man could drop kick you so good. He was a terrific wrestler," Vitale said. Over the top The event put Da Crusher Foundation over its goal of $40,000, drawing over 400 people and grossing $7,000, said Chris Smith, president of Da Crusher Foundation. "We're over the top and we're going to start the process this week to ask the contractor to build the actu- al statue," he said. Also attending were local wrestlers Herman Schaefer and Angel Armoni, Smith said, as well as Ken Patera and Kenny Jay. Smith said Da Crusher is an area legend and more so in South Milwaukee. In his prime he was one of the top wrestlers in the world, Smith said. Smith said he'd put Da Crusher in his top five all time for the total package of charisma, wrestling ability and his interviews. But beyond that, he was a gen- uinely nice guy, staying in character for autograph seekers, and never turning down a charity appearance or visit to Children's Hospital. He was a caring person, making it even more obvious the statue effort is the "right thing to do," Smith said. He added he hopes the unveiling of the statue sometime next year becomes a celebration leading to an annual Crusherfest. For Vitale, though, the walk down memory lane was just that — a visit, as he generally doesn't keep up with any of his contempo- raries or follow the current state of wrestling today. "'When it's over, it's over' has always been my motto," he said. Vitale among former wrestlers supporting Da Crusher statue in South Milwaukee Fundraiser a reunion of sorts for retired Vito Martino SPORTS From left, former professional wrestlers Vito Martino (Emanuele Vitale), Baron von Raschke and Jumpin' Jim Brunzell were reunited April 6 during an event in South Milwaukee to raise funds for a statue to honor Da Crusher, South Milwaukee native Reggie Lisowski. The boy is unidentified. Vitale was a pro wrestler for 10 years before serving 18 as a Waukesha alderman. Submitted photos Waukesha's Emanuele Vitale was 42 when he began wrestling professionally as Vito Martino in the late 1970s.

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