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Crimson Racquetmen Crush Amherst; Lose Single Match in Season's Opener

By Michael K. Savit

George McGovern came to Harvard yesterday, but even he could do little for the Amherst squash team. The Lord Jeffs, with McGovern playing in the ninth position, fell to the highly-touted Crimson racquetmen, 8-1.

As did seven of his teammates, McGovern lost three successive games to his Crimson opponent. Howland Murphy easily defeated McGovern, 15-9, 15-14, 15-9, in a match which was indicative of Harvard's overall team superiority.

In total, the Crimson won 25 of 28 games. Dick Cashin, Harvard's number two performer, suffered all three defeats, as he fell to Amherst's Bob Gilbralter by a 15-17, 15-11, 15-10, 15-14, margin.

Otherwise, Harvard had little difficulty in winning its opening match of the year. Captain Peter Blasier, in the first position, bested Amherst's captain, John Bates, 15-10, 15-10, 15-7.

The Crimson racquetman who had the easiest time of it was senior Cass Sunstein. Playing in the seventh slot due to an injury to Steve Mead, who usually plays in that position, Sunstein limited his opponent to just 16 points in capturing an easy 15-3, 15-6, 15-7, victory.

The middle of Harvard's line-up proved exceptionally strong. Sophomore Bill Kaplan, in the third position, senior Fred Fisher, and juniors Peter Havens and Jeff Wiegand, in the fifth and sixth slots, respectively, each swept to victory in the minimum number of games.

Kaplan, the lone sophomore on the team, conquered Amherst's Fred Arnold with ease, 15-6, 15-5, 15-10. Fisher likewise had little difficulty, as he triumphed by the score of 15-6, 15-6, 15-11.

Forfeit

Rounding out the Crimson's triumph, number-eight-man Tim Morgan won his first two games before his opponent, Ed Silbert, was forced to forfeit the match due to an injury.

The Crimson will now practice in preparation for their next match this Saturday versus Army. The Cadets shouldn't prove much of an obstacle for the racquetmen, who will be bolstered by the return of Mead. Even without Mead, however, Harvard had little trouble in besting Amherst. Perhaps what the latter needed was a player by the name of Nixon.

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