Next Year's Tennis Squad May Be the Team to Beat

"We had great coaching like always, but really lousy doctors. This was the greatest team of cripples I've ever seen," Bill Washauer, captain of the tennis team, said to sum up his squad's 10-2 season.

Playing two and three matches a week with as many as four players sick or injured at one time, the Crimson still surpassed pre-season expectations to finish tied for second in the EITA.

"The key to our success was the rapid development of the sophomores." coach Jack Barnaby said. "Randy Barnett was very strong at number three and Tom Loring and Peter Briggs gave us the depth we needed to win the close ones," he explained.

The losses to Princeton and Navy Barnaby attributed to the inexperience of the doubles teams.

The Crimson dropped all three doubles on Princeton's indoor courts to lose to the Tigers, 6-3, in April. It lost two of three doubles in its 5-4 defeat to Navy. "You can't beat God when he says no," Barnaby lamented.

Barnaby doesn't appear to be in for too much lamentation next season. Washauer, Cavaragh and Brock will be leaving vacancies at first, second and fifth singles when they graduate, but the team should be stronger at all three positions with the return of co-captain Chris Nielson, and the addition of Harris Masterson and Ken Lindner, both undefeated freshmen at first and second singles.

"Masterson and Lindner should be ready for first doubles next year," Barnaby said, "and they'll be near the top of the singles ladder as well."

Co-captain Dave Fish will be back to play number three singles. "My game isn't exactly dynamite," Fish said, "but I'm a threat with my drop shot from anywhere on the court." Noted for his consistency and poise, Fish will probably team up with Nielson at second doubles.

Freshmen will be eligible for the varsity next year, and John Inguard, from Lincoln, Mass., could challenge for third singles. Barnaby is confident that he can make Bennett into the best number five man in the east, and Nielson, who played second singles two years ago, could be as low as number six.

Loring may be able to break into the line-up at third doubles. "Tom's serve improved immensely this year," Barnaby said. "and he has the fastest hands at net of anyone on the team." Peter Buiggs, who played both singles and doubles last year, will probably only see action if someone gets injured.

Coach Barnaby is understandably enthused about next season's team. "We're loaded for bear," he said. "Barring an epidemic of injuries, we'll be the team to beat next year."