Lightweights Top Middies

Six sophomores in the first boat turned out to be a pretty good bet for Coach Larry Coolidge as his light-weight crews easily defeated highly-touted Navy Saturday afternoon on a windswept Charles River course.

Rowing against 20 mph headwinds producing rough racing conditions, the varsity crossed the finish line two full lengths ahead of the Middies in a winning time of 8:03 minutes. Navy followed 8 seconds behind the Crimson shell, but posted an official time of 8:22.5 when it stopped short of the end marker.

The JV's had even less trouble whipning their Navy counterparts in the preceding duel. Covering the course in 8:04, they ended the race four lengths ahead of the Middies, who settled for a 8:23.7 clocking.

Sophomore Iver Peterson, stroking for the first time in varsity competition got his boat off to a quick lead at the start and kept the Crimson ahead for the rest of the race. Overstroking Navy 43 to 42 in the begining, Peterson settled to a 32 as the varsity slowly built up its lead.

With a mile to go in the Henley distance, which is a mile and 5/16, the varsity led by a quarter length. The lead increased to a length with a half mile to go. The Middies raised the stroke to a 35 for the closing sprint, but Coolidge's "inexperienced" boat added a length to its lead without going above a 33.

In the earlier race, the JV's fought the whitecaps in the Charles basin to take a big lead from the Middies and never relinquished it thereafter. Water conditions were so bad at the starting line that waves splashed into the shells even when they were not moving.

For Coolidge, whose beaming face at the end of the day expressed his feelings more than words could, the double victory was quite important. His crews were every bit the equal of Navy in polish and form, despite the latter's edge in experience and practice this spring.

Navy, in fact, didn't look as good as everyone expected. Throughout the afternoon the Middle oarsmen appeared to be taking only a three-quarter stroke--especially risky against strong head-winds, which demand longer strokes than usual.