Crimson Wrestlers in Excellent Shape To Take Tournament After Strong Start

Harvard's varsity wrestling team started strong and is in a good position to take all three dual meets in a four team round-robin tournament in Lancaster, Pa. The meet, whose final round is this afternoon, is hosted by Franklin and Marshall College.

"After tonight's performance in the first two rounds, we're in really good shape and if we take some key matches Saturday we'll take all three meets," Harvard's 158-pounder Collin Mangrum said after last night's competition.

Besides the host-school, Harvard is meeting the University of Virginia and William and Mary College. "Everybody is pretty close right now but it looks like a toss-up between Harvard and William and Mary to see who will end up 3-0," Franklin and Marshall coach Ron Gray said. "Virginia looks like the weakest team at this moment," he added.

Going into the final matches today, the Crimson is trailing William and Mary by three points and needs victories in the meet's remaining bouts to beat the Indians.

Harvard was put in a favorable position against the Indians by heavyweight Tom Tripp, who after falling behind 2-0, reversed his foe to tie the score. Then he proceeded to execute a perfect pinning combination with less than a minute remaining in the match to earn four points for the Crimson.

Against Franklin and Marshall, Harvard holds a slim two point lead, with three matches left. The Crimson must win two out of the three matches involving captain Pat Coleman, 150 pounds, Richie Starr, 177 pounds, and Dave Kreis, 126 pounds.

"As far as I'm concerned, we have to turn in an outstanding performance to win. We do look really good at 126, but I'm not sure how we'll do in the other two," coach Gray said. Coleman and Starr are favored but Kreis is inexperienced. This is his first varsity meet.

Harvard is leading Virginia by six points and appears to be in no danger against the Wahoos. The remaining Crimson wrestler will face Virginia in their final bouts today. Henson, Tripp and 177-pound Mark Faller won both their matches last night, while Coleman and Jon Peters, 142 pounds, each scored a victory and a tie.