Wrestlers Upset Hofstra, Split Two Other Matches

By the time the fired-up Crimson matmen came from behind to stun nationally ranked Hofstra, 19-18, at the IAB Saturday afternoon, it really didn't come as much of a surprise. It was just the last confusing upset of a very confusing four-team meet.

Before the tussle started, Hofstra was expected to win all three of its matches, while B.U. and the Crimson would battle for runner-up. Unknown Southern Connecticut would probably trail the field.

For a while, that's the way things worked out. In the first pairings of the day, Hofstra held off the Terriers, 19-14, while the Crimson was easily disposing of the Owls, 28-10.

Harvard got off to a quick start in that first contest, winning the first four bouts, one a pin by Milt Yasunaga (126 lbs.). The next four bouts were split before Sal D'agostino (177 lbs.) got his second pin in two bouts this season to clinch the Harvard triumph.

Then the shocks started. Against Southern Connecticut, the best wrestler in the meet, Hofstra's Nick Gallo (142 lbs.), had to forfeit his bout because of an illegal move, and the Owls got a crucial pin at 190 lbs. to clinch an upset over Hofstra, 24-12.

Meanwhile, on the other mat, B.U. and Harvard were wrapped up in the tight scrap that everyone expected. The Crimson won some impressive battles, getting an 11-2 triumph from Tom Bixby (150 lbs.), yet another pin from D'agostino, and a similar effort from Kip Smith (Unl.). But B.U. won the first four bouts and three other close contests to win the war, 22-16.

Two more winning bouts would have given Harvard the victory, but Yasunaga was upset by a grappler he had beaten twice before in his career, and Jim Corcoran (158 lbs.) made some mistakes that cost him a wild, 10-7 struggle to Terrier Cliff Whalen.

By the time Harvard met the Dutchmen, it was clear that Hofstra was weak at the light and heavy ends of the lineup, and that's where the Crimson forged its stunning victory. Dave Albert (118 lbs.) and Yasunaga, with his second pin of the day, gave Harvard an early 9-0 advantage.

After Hofstra won the five middle bouts to take a 16-9 lead, and while B.U. was edging the Owls on the other mat, 23-20, Harvard launched a late charge. D'agostino finally failed to pin, but did get a 16-4 rout to make the score 16-14. After Fred Smith (190 lbs.) got a key tie, Kip Smith whipped his foe, 5-0, for the one-point team win.