...But Aquamen Keep Rolling, Thump Dartmouth, 76-37

While the Harvard men's hockey and basketball teams both fell from the ranks of the undefeated this weekend, one Crimson squad kept its perfect record afloat.

The Harvard men's swimming team upped its season slate to 6-0 with an easy 76-37 victory over an outclassed Dart-mouth squad Saturday at Blodgett Pool.

The swimmers thrashed Dartmouth despite the fatigue brought on by a rigorous winter training session in St. Petersburg, Fla. "The team did not really swim that well," sophomore Lars Reirson said. "I think we were a little flat after the Christmas training."

The man who seemed least affected was freshman John Ritch, who outdistanced the field in the 500-yd. freestyle with a time of 4:36.6.

Teammate Dan Simkowitz took the 200-yd. backstroke in 1:56.7, and Yardling John Pierson captured the 200-yd. freestyle with a time of 1:43.0.

The Crimson, taking Dartmouth rather lightly, had several people swimming in races that were not their normal events. Off-event victories included the 200-yd. butterfly, in which Tim Ford and Bill Bird finished first and second, and the 1000-yd. freestyle, in which Dave Barnes and Dave Berkoff took the top two spots.

Cup of Coffee

Overall, the victory was not a particularly impressive one over a Dartmouth program that is considering dropping out of Division I competition. Yet for a team that was described by senior Bill McClosky as "a little broken down and tired," it was a solid win.

The aquamen now have over three weeks to rest up before they meet the Terriers of Boston University on January 29. However, most of the swimmers are looking ahead to their early-February showdown at Princeton.

"Princeton could be the only obstacle to an undefeated season for us," said McCloskey. "For them, its their whole season."