Wrestlers Place Fourth In 16-Team Tournament

Harvard's wrestlers fought to a fourth place finish in a rugged field of 16 teams Saturday at the Coast Guard Academy Tournament in New London, Conn. Ed Franquemont and Paul Padlak led the way for the Crimson with second place in their weight classes.

The supermen from Oklahoma State won the tournament with 121 points, followed by Army with 55, East Stroudsberg State with 54, and Harvard with 43.

Other Crimson wrestlers who finished well were captain Tim Gilmore, who was third at 137 pounds, and Chris Wickens, fourth at 167.

Franquemont, after reaching the semifinals of the 152-pound competition, lost to Mike Redig of Oklahoma State 6 to 3. However, due to the tournament's complicated double-elimination system, he was still able to reach the finals by edging Bob Wendel of Mankato State, 3 to 2, during overtime of a combination match. Franquemont then faced Redig again, this time for the championship, and was beaten 5 to 1.

Padlak lost to Ray Sepeth of Army 3 to 1 in the semifinals at 160. He, too, climbed back into the fight with a 4-3 overtime victory over Ched Dalgewicz of East Stroudsberg, but lost to Sepeth once more in the title match, this time 11 to 3.

Gilmore, after reaching the semifinals at 137, was battered down, 13 to 0 by Oklahoma State's Gene Davis and then lost to Bob Robbins of Army, 6 to 6, in the consolation round. But his earlier victories won him third place in the class.

After a 3-2 defeat by Wesleyan's John Logan in the quarter finals. Wickens faced Rod Richmond of Hofstra in the consolation. At the end of the regulation six minutes, the two were tied 3-3: after an overtime period, they were deadlocked 4-4, but a referee's decision gave Wickens the win. He then almost upset Bob Drebenstedt of Oklahoma State in another consolation before losing 2-1 and settling for fourth place.