Tiger Oarsmen Improve After A Narrow Setback in Navy Race

When Fred Spuhn shook his head before the Navy race and said he did not know how good his Princeton crew was going to be he was not being just cannily reticent. He really did not know. Nor is be sure now.

But after Jack Pitney and his mates went down to the Severn and gave the Midshipmen a tough run for their money in rough water to lose by a little more than half a length to the Poughkeepsic kings. Spuhn has a right to be anything but gloomy.

Stroke Setting Down

That race showed that the Tiger oarsmen have passed through the kindergarten stage of learning a new stroke. The disturbance caused by the advent of a different style, the "Washington stroke," has calmed down and apparently Princeton rowing has finished changing horses in the middle of the stream.

The problem that used to be a burner, "What's Fred going to do for a stroke?" has been answered by the presence of Randy Fenninger, pace-setter of the Freshman boat last year. Preceded by two brothers on Orange and Black varsity boats, Fenninger has racing in his blood and pounds out a rhythmic as well as a powerful stroke.

Steady Stern Trio

Rounding out the stern trio, to which Spuhn pays the sincere compliment of calling it "steady," come Hill Bennett and Captain Pitney. Lex Bayard moved back into the No. 5 seat after the Navy contest and is still doing business at the same stand. Charlie Dennison is at home in the first boat, having left his No. 2 of last year to carry on activity at 4. Pat Merle Smith at 3 has been having no trouble in getting back to galley-slave form after a year's lay-off.

Lanky Herrick Allen is at 2 with Fred Koenig, sculling champion of the University, manning the bow oar. Whitney Dalzell is again doing the steering.