Injury-Ridden Grapplers Topple Penn

The bad news for the Harvard wrestling team this weekend was not that it lost to Princeton, 40-2, on Friday night; nor was it that the grapplers' record dropped to 1-2 in the Ivies and 7-7 overall after a tremendous start earlier this season.

Instead, the bad news was that more than half of the starting line-up came back to Cambridge Saturday injured and questionable for this weekend's action against Brown and Columbia.

Although the grapplers were dumped by the Tigers Friday in Princeton, N.J.--managing only a tie by 158-1b. Peter Holmes--they bounced back Saturday with an impressive 25-14 rout of Penn in Philadelphia.

The loss to Princeton put a damper on Harvard's hopes of winning its first ever Ivy League title, and with the Ivy wrestling season just half over only Cornell which edged the Crimson, 24-17, last week in Ithaca, N.Y.--appears to have any chance of challenging the league-leading Tigers.

A lack of depth continues to haunt the Crimson, as the squad was forced to wrestle a number of injured starters against Princeton as well as surrender an automatic six points when 134-1b. Tri-Captain Jeff Clark had to forfeit his match with a bad ankle.

"They simply had better balance," Harvard coach Jim Peckham said. "You need four kids who can win every week for you, and with all the injuries we just don't have that right now,"

The grapplers rallied impressively on Saturday against Penn, however, and despite starting a number of reserves they easily handled the Quakers to register their first Ivy triumph of the season.

Although 118-1b. freshman Joel San Pedro only managed a drew against Penn and loss to his Princeton opponent, he continues to turn in solid performances against more seasoned opposition and remains one of the bright spots in the lower weight classes.

The other half of the Crimson's starting freshman combination, 126-1b. Courtney Henry, wrestling on a bad ankle, was edged out by his Princeton opponent in one of the day's closest bouts. On Saturday, however, Henry bounced back to take a three-point decision.

Freshman Chris Thorn (134-1b), wrestling in his first matches of the year, dropped a three-point decision at Princeton and lost against at Penn Saturday despite two solid efforts.

John Freeman (150-1b) split his two decisions, winning handily at Penn and losing at Princeton, while Pete Holmes' draw at Princeton provided the Crimson with its only points of the day.

Rallying Point

Holmes also triggered Harvard's comeback Saturday against Penn with an 8-2 triumph.

Duties at the 167-1b. division were split with freshman David George losing against Princeton, and senior Kevin McGinty taking a 7-5 decision against Penn.

Tri-Captain Steve Farrell (177-1bs.)continued to turn in the season's most inspiring performance, pinning a tough Penn grappler. In his first loss of the season, Farrell fell to a Princeton opponent he had out-wrestled after making a tactical error late in the match.

Both senior John Zilcosky (190-1bs.) and sophomore Kelly Flynn (heavyweight) lost tough bouts at Princeton, and both were injured in the process. Senior Paul Wiesen filled in at heavyweight against Penn and sealed off the victory with a win.

THE NOTEBOOK: The injury report for this week includes: Henry (ankle), Clark (ankle), Tri-Captain Jerry Greenberg (neck), Holmes (stomach), Farrell (hand), Zilkosky (shoulder) and Flynn (head). All are starters and all remain questionable for this weekend's action at Malkin Athletic Center...The grapplers were awarded their first day off from practice in three weeks on Monday.