Crimson Grapplers Confront Cal Poly

The Harvard wrestling team tangles with six-time NCAA college division champ California State Polytechnic in the IAB tonight at 7 p.m. Though a Harvard shellacking is certain, the masochistic Crimson hopes to keep Cal Poly's margin of victory as small as possible.

"We're going to be one of their real pushovers this season," Harvard coach John Lee said Tuesday, The Mustangs, currently ranked fourth in the nation, wrestle about 40 opponents a year, including the country's top 15 teams.

The only possible Crimson victories will be at 118 and 190 with veterans Dan Blakinger and Richie Starr, both of whom are undefeated this season. The wrestlers are the only Harvard starters with experience in national college meets. Blakinger placed third in the 1971 National AAU tourney and Starr nabbed fifth in the 1971 NCAA meet.

The injuries of Carl Biello and Bruce Johnson wiped out Harvard's chances of capturing matches at 134 and 167. Johnson, who cracked a rib while battling Cornell's Dave Crawford last week and Biello, resting an injured shoulder, should be back in the lineup next month.

Harvard will take a beating in eight divisions. Freshman George Baker, (142), who nabbed two straight wins against Cornell and UMass tackles Cal Poly's Larry Morgan who is third in the nation and was an alternate to the U.S. Olympic team. The Mustangs' Al Cook, the defending national champion, meets Rock Hinkle, who has not won a match this season.

Bit Unbalanced

The Crimson's Bill Haley (126), Mitch Silverman (134), Mike Dee (150), Jim Strathmeyer (177) and Paul Dowling (unlimited) fill out the rest of the line up. "We're a bit unbalanced, but we have the potential to give Cal Poly some good matches," Lee said.

"We're basically a young team lacking experience," he said. "We'll get in their fighting, but we'll have our hands full." Cal Poly wields power in every weight class; seven out of their ten wrestlers placed in last year's nationals.

"Maybe they'll want to give their front, line a break and hit us with their subs," Lee said. "No matter what happens we're bound to gain from the experience of wrestling some of the best in the country."

Cal Poly swings into Cambridge on the last legs of a whirlwind East Coast four. The Mustangs last night tackled Navy, the defending Eastern champion, and earlier met formidable opponents from Lehigh, Springfield and the University of Rhode Island. Harvard could be their intended rest stop.