Aquamen Conquer West Point

Harvard's consecutive dual meet victory streak reached 25 Saturday when the Crimson continued its romp through the Eastern League schedule with a 64-49 victory over Army in the West Pointers' home pool.

A new team hero has emerged each week from the talented and dedicated crop of rookies that registered in September. First Larry Countryman against Columbia, then David Lundberg in the Navy rout, and now Ted Chappell, have proved themselves superior to any new arrival on any other team in the league.

Chappell, until now considered a distance freestyler and individual medleyist, stunned everyone, including himself, with his phenomenal showing in the 200-yd. butterfly.

He grabbed the lead midway through the fifth lap and left his competition gulping in his wake, as he streaked home in a time of 1:52.3, the second fastest ever recorded by a Harvard swimmer in the event.

"I had lost a close race [in the 200 free] earlier in the meet and didn't want that to happen again so I broke out and tried to get away right after the 100," the Ramsey, N.J., native said yesterday.

The "newly discovered" butterflyer's early season time and the even-split style in which he accomplished it are all the more impressive considering that coach Joe Bernal put his charges through rigorous workouts both Friday evening and Saturday morning before the meet.

As has become the rule this year, Harvard jumped out to an early lead and never faced a challenge.

Larry Countryman and Steven Schramm did the most damage, each recording two individual firsts. Countryman took the 1000 (9:37) and 500 (4:37.1) freestyles, while Schramm dominated both the low-and high-board diving.

Breaststroke sensation David Lundberg made a shambles of his supposed dual with Koji Nishinura, last year's Eastern champion in the 100 and 200 runner-up. Nishimura faded badly after leading midway while Lundberg cruised in at 2:07.7, only slightly off last week's Harvard record setting form.

Shot in the Dark

Army won the two freestyle sprint races, but even these events produced a bright spot for the Crimson.

Senior co-captain Ned Cahoon went 22.1 in the 50 and 48.7 in the 100, the former qualifying him for the Eastern Seaboard meet.

CRIMSON SPLASHES: It was the Lions over the Tigers in the (Princeton Columbia) battle of the beasts in southern New Jersey. Columbia tapered and shaved for the meet.