Squash Team Faces Tigers Depth Makes Crimson the Favorite

The national intercollegiate squash champion will be crowned this weekend. The Crimson faces Princeton this afternoon on the Tigers' Jadwin courts and Penn Saturday in Philadelphia.

Harvard and Penn are both undefeated, so for the third consecutive year the Crimson-Quaker match will determine the national titlist. First however, Harvard must oppose Princeton, a team that has improved greatly in the last two weeks.

Wallop

Princeton began the year terribly, losing away matches to Amherst, 5-4, Williams, 5-4, and Navy, 7-2. But in its last two games, the Tigers came within a point of upsetting Penn and walloped Army, 8-1.

Princeston is led by senior Sandy McAdoo, who is presently ranked third in intercollegiate competition. McAdoo passed up team competition early in the season in order to enter several club tournaments, but he has returned for Princeton's most important matches. He must be considered a solid favorite to beat Peter Briggs today.

The Tigers also have a strong contender at number two, Randy Johnson, but the rest of the ladder is considerably weaker than Harvard.

It is unlikely that the Crimson will be looking past today's match. "We want to beat them badly," coach Jack Barnaby said, "so that we can go in Saturday knowing we're stronger than Penn."

Penn coach Al Malloy was not upset by his team's poor showing at Princeton. "I left two players at home and I expected us to win 6-3," he said. "I guess we were a little too anxious to get to the Harvard match."

In both weekend matches Harvard should have an advantage at the lowest positions. "Harvard could switch anyone from three through nine because they are equally strong," Malloy said.

The one psychological advantage against the Crimson is the presence of McAdoo and Palmer on the opposition. "A tremendous number one man can give the other team an inferiority complex at every position," Barnaby said. "Last year we had the advantage, but this year we'll have to overcome it."

Barnaby said that either match this weekend could be won at any position. "On Saturday you will be able to look back and there will be one 3-2 game that was the turning point," he said. "We've got to make sure we win every one of those close situations."

Last Saturday, Barnaby was awarded the President's Cup by the United States Squash Racquet Association. The award is the highest personal squash award in the country and represents outstanding contribution to American squash.

Barnaby called the award. "the greatest thrill since I met my wife." Two victories this weekend would add a ninth national title in ten years to his achievements.