Crimson Squash Captain Loses NY Tourney Bid

A freak back injury forced Harvard varsity squash captain Peter Briggs out of the semifinals of the Joseph Lerdi Invitationals in New York last Sunday.

Briggs, the national collegiate squash champion, collapsed on the court during his first match against national amateur champ Victor Niederhoffer.

"There seemed to be a sudden ripping of my muscles." Briggs said here yesterday. "Then I felt them tighten up in a matter of seconds.

Briggs recovered inter is the day but not before the tourney ended. "I was all to win the set and make the finals and I lost my chance," he said. "The injury was nothing serious." Briggs defeated players from Philadelphia and New York, winning six of nine matches. Niederhoffer advanced to the finals after Brigg's default and lost the Championship to New Yorker Frank Satherwaithe.