Havens Leads Crimson to 8-1 Victory

A blowout. That's the only word for the Harvard men's squash team's 8-1 thrashing of an allegedly-talented Yale nine Saturday at Hemenway Gym, as the Crimson ended its dual match season at 8- 2 with its most convincing win of the year.

Like any Harvard-Yale tilt, this contest was a grudge match. The Crimson hadn't lost to the Elis since 1961, but the squad barely survived a 5-4 scare last season at New Haven. The Yalies, tired of "so close but no...," were looking to light the victory cigar this time around. But it was not to be, for the Harvard racquetmen were determined to end what some would call a disappointing season with a satisfying win.

"This is probably the most frustrating match of the season," Andy Klingenstein, Yale's number eight man lamented after the match. "This is the first time we've ever played Harvard and thought we had a shot at every position. On paper we're a better team," he added.

The Elis may have been better "on paper," but on the courts they were no match for the Crimson. Two man John Stubbs and number four player George Bell started things off well for Harvard with two quick victories.

Stubby dropped Eli Captain Frank Fairman in four games, while Bell outsted Jim McBurney in three straight despite the free-swing McBurney's dangerous style of play.

Head Hunter

"He was swinging it in my face all day," Bell noted later, "but when you beat a guy three-zip, there's no sense being a sourpuss about it."

The Crimson upped the margin to 4-0 with wins at the sixth and eighth spots. Six man John Fishwick came from an 0-2 deficit to beat Yalie Dave Shatz in five games, while eight man Joe Somers went into fifth-game overtime before downing Yale's previously-undefeated Andy Klingenstein, 3-2.

Captain John Havens clinched the team win with an impressive victory at number one. Taking over the top position for the injured Mike Desaulniers, the three-time all-Ivy champion ended his amazing college career by smoking Eli Dave Barrett in straight games.

After winning the first game by a wide margin, Havens returned from a 9-14 deficit in the second to capture the game in overtime, 16-15. Havens took the final stanza easily, 15-10.

The most exciting match of the afternoon came after Havens had wrapped up the team victory when Harvard number three man "The Ayatollah" Mitch Reese returned triumphantly from an 0-2 exile to oust Yale's Mike Solovay, 3-2.

The Crimson's only loss came at the seventh position, where John Heller suffered his first defeat of the season in a five-game heartbreaker against Eli Reed Knox. Chuck Elliot and Jeff Secrest rounded out the Crimson's victory parade with wins at five and nine respectively.

Although the dual match season is over, six Crimson racquetmen will travel to West Point later this week for the NISRA championships and a shot at the National six-man title.

HARVARD 8, YALE 1

at Hemenway Gym

1. Havens (H) def. Barrett 15-7, 16-15, 15-10

2. Stubbs (H) def. Fairman 15-4, 9-15, 15-7, 15-11

3. Reese (H) def. Solovay 9-15, 12-15, 15-6, 15-10, 15-8

4. Bell (H) def. McBurney 15-8, 15-11, 17-15

5. Elliott (H) def. Stahl 15-11, 13-15, 15-9, 15-12

6. Fishwick (H) def. Shatz 12-15, 14-15, 17-16, 15-7, 15-6

7. Know (Y) def. Heller 15-12, 7-15, 6-15, 15-10, 8-15

8. Somers (H) def. Klingenstein 12-15, 15-12, 15-11, 10-15, 16-14

9. Secrest (H) def. Kempner 15-11, 17-16, 16-18, 15-7

10. Robie (H) def. Greer 15-7, 15-10, 15-5