Swimmers Show Depth, Potential

There have been rumblings around the I.A.B. since last March that this season the varsity swimming team would beat Yale for the first time since 1938.

Harvard swimming followers have long felt frustrated at watching strong Crimson teams roll over routine opponents, then drop their annual match with Yale.

Freshman Strength

This year is different, say some team members. The varsity has last season's great freshman team, which ended Yale's 66-meet winning streak. Yale has lost aces Tim Jecko and Roger Anderson, and several underclassmen. The Crimson wants to win badly, and all its dreams center on Payne Whitney Pool next March.

The chief obstacles before Yale are Navy and Dartmouth. Otherwise, Crimson depth should carry it through with little difficulty. The varsity needs the services of two key men whose eligibility is now in question, however.

Sprinter Bruce Hunter is on probation, but may get off next semester. Champion diver Frank Gorman's status is also in doubt. Both are essential against Yale, Hunter for firsts in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles and the final relay, and Gorman because he is the best diver on the East coast. At any rate, neither can be entered against Navy in January.

New Event Poses Problem

Another worry for the Harvard squad is a new intercollegiate event--the 200-yard individual medley. In this race, Yale already has on its team last year's Eastern champion, Foster DeJesus. The Crimson will counter with Gary Pildner and Tom Bartlett, both versatile, balanced, and improving, but neither up to DeJesus' level.

The Crimson has some definite firstrate talent. Besides Hunter and Gorman, there is Bob Kaufmann, last year's Yardling captain who broke a national freshman record in the backstroke, but whose specialty is a very fast freestyle sprint, and Fred Elizalde, who broke the University's butterfly record.

Behind this array lies strong depth. In every event the varsity roster lists two good swimmers. The backstroke will see Jay Hayden and Sandy Maw, who placed in the Easterns last season.

Three experienced competitors--Doug McCartney, Bill Schellstede, and Jim Perilman--will handle the breast stroke, while Jim Coffman will help Elizalde in the fly. Besides Gorman, the dive lists Ric Johnson, the Crimson's only winner against Yale last season, and Gerry Cleason.

Harvard also shows promise in the freestyle events. The long distances are secure with Bob Komenda and Bill Zentgraf, both strong and hard-working, doing the 440, and Dave Seaton and Hank Southall the 220.

Scattered among the 50, the 100, and the two relays, the Crimson will enter Kaufmann. Ian Finlayson, Captain Koni Ulbrich, Bill Rose, and, hopefully, Hunter and Norris Eisenbrey, who is not yet practicing full time.

Before looking too far ahead to New Haven, the team needs to prepare for Navy and Dartmouth. As Coach Bill Brooks told his swimmers, he does not want them to "think of Yale until riding through New Haven on the train coming from Annapolis.