Crimson Grapplers Fall to Elis, 26-13, In League Match

For the Harvard wrestling team the strategy against league-leading Yale was to win the matches in the lower weight classes. While the strategy may have been correct, it didn't pay off as Yale soundly defeated the Crimson matmen, 26-13, Saturday in the IAB.

Harvard captain Dan Blakinger started the Crimson machine rolling at 118 lbs., when he demolished Yale's Mark Berner, 16-5.

Bill Haley added to the momentum by barely defeating Bill Gamper, 4-3, in a closely contested match at 126.

But then Harvard got untracked as Yale's Dave Horn squeezed out a victory from George, Baker at 134. The Baker match was crucial for the Crimson's expected meet win over the Elis.

Harvard coach John Lee said yesterday Baker's match was extremely close and that "the officials made a few questionable calls."

As expected, Yale took over and won six of the next eight matches. At 167, Harvard's Bruce Johnson copped a pleasing victory over Yale's Jamie McEwen, who defeated Johnson when the two grapplers met last year.

Crimson wrestlers now sport a 6-8 overall record.