Freedman Pin Gives Harvard Win

PROVINDENCE, R.I., Feb. 25--Brown's and Harvard's rival wrestling coaches played wild tricks with their lineups here today, but only Howie Freedman's brutal, basic pin in the 177-pound match could finally decide a 22-12 Harvard victory.

Freedman's 6:28 pin of Joe Buttrill took the Crimson from a 12-11 deficit to a 16-12 lead. Paul Padlak (191) and Bob Panoff (hvy) decisions then salted the win away.

The pin was swift, hard, and effective. Leading 2-0 and on the bottom position in the third period, Freedman stood up and while standing, hooked his legs around Buttrill's.

When they came down, Freedman had a 2-point reversal and also half of a "crucifix." With his left leg wrapped around Buttrill's left leg, Freedman reached across Buttrill to grab his right leg with his hands. He then rocked back, splitting Buttrill's legs wide apart hard enough to make him groan.

When that failed to pin Buttrill, Freedman let go of the right leg and reached behind the Brown grappler's neck into the far shoulder. And when that twisting, punishing hold failed to bring both shoulders to the mat, Freedman dug his chin into the near shoulder, finally pinning Buttrill.

Old Adversaries

The most exciting match of the day was the very first one, between Howie Henjyoji and Steve Gluckman. They had split four previous matches during their careers, so each entered the floor fully aware of the other's capabilities.

In this rubber match, Henjyoji pulled three final period take-downs and a last second predicament to win an 11-5 match.

Then came the lineup fun. Danny Naylor didn't come out for his 130 match with Rick Whipple. Instead, Andy Kopecki lost a tough 9-8 decision on riding time despite a literally last second take-down.

Carl Baum (137) and Bill Zinn (145) lost close, scheduled matches, in Zinn's case again on riding time.

Out came Ed Franquemont, the man who had shaken hands with two wrestlers before the meet. But he wrestled nobody. Brown's coach chose to forfeit to Franquemont and use his 152 men later, so the score now rode to 9-8 Brown.

Jeff Grant (160) lost to Robbie Harley, 6-1, but Chris Wickens foiled Brown's strategy by defeating the first 152 man, John Buxton, 4-1. The second of the 152 pounders--Buttrill--came out to meet Howie Freedman (who himself was announced at 191 before the meet) and met the crucifix.