Cornell Miffs Matmen, 32-9

"We're hurting," was about the only comment Harvard wrestling Coach Jim Peckham could muster yesterday afternoon after Columbia rolled over the Crimson, 32-9, at Malkin Athletic Center, handing the Crimson its third straight Ivy League defeat.

The matmen (1-4 Ivies, 9-8 overall) are suffering from a bad case of injuries and a worse case of deja-vu, as the team continues to fall behind by more than 20 points before the middle weights can snap the cold streak.

Wins by 15-lb. John Freeman, 158-lb. Pete Holmes, and 177-lb. Steve Farrell were the only three the Crimson could record against Columbia (3-2 Ivies).

The loss leaves the Crimson in a position to battle with Yale for fourth place in the league (with winless Penn expected to finish in the cellar) next Saturday at the MAC.

Although 190-lb. Kelly Flynn did not come away with a victory, he provided some excitement in a match which pitted two highly-touted sophomores. Flynn, battling a former two-time New England High School Champion, clung to a 4-3 lead in the third period, before giving up a two point takedown with :03 remaining in the match.

Farrell and Holmes continue to prove themselves the team's most consistent wrestlers. Holmes, still undefeated in Ivy League competition this year, held on for a 3-2 win over Columbia senior and Tri-Captain Chris Kane.

Farrell, now 11-1 on the year, battled one of the Ivy League's toughest competitors at 177 lbs., Joe Rojas, who earlier this year defeated the only grappler Farrell has lost to--a 177-lb. Princeton wrestler--this season. Farrell, wrestling aggressively, jumped out to a 5-2 advantage and lead all the way en route to a tough-fought 8-5 triumph.

Freeman, who has turned in surprisingly strong performances this year, held off a late surge by Columbia freshman Toby Johnson to record a 2-0 win.

Freeman's win came after four straight defeats for the Crimson, two of which were technical falls (15 point decisions) against 126-lb. Bernardo Feliciano and 134-lb. Jeff Pellatier. 142-lb. Chris Thorn suffered a pin and 118-lb. freshman Joel San Pedro dropped an 11-3 decision.

In other action, freshman David George, filling in for injured senior Jerry Greenberg, gave up a 10-2 decision and sophomore heavyweight Alex Konovalchik dropped a 6-3 decision to Columbia junior Jerry Peterson.