Matsmen Win One, Lose Two at WPI

The Harvard wrestling team was one up and two down at a series of matches at Worcester Polytechnical Institute Saturday.

The Crimson defeated New York University, 35-17, and lost to WPI, 24-17, and University of New Hampshire, 19-15, to bring the matmen's overall pre-Ivy record to 4-3.

"We were definitely a little disappointed [with the results of the match]," Harvard Co-Captain Steve Farrell said. "We've had injuries and problems, but everyone is working hard. I believe we will pull things together by the next part of the season."

In the 158-1b. weight class, matman Peter Holmes won both his matches against UNH and WPI, while senior Jerry Greenberg defeated wrestlers from all three opposing teams in the 142-1b. weight class.

Harvard also won all of its matches in the 177-1b. category, with matmen Kevin McGinty, Farrell and John Willoughby dominating competitors from UNH, WPI and NYU, respectively.

Despite these individual victories, the Crimson still fell short of defeating WPI and UNH.

"The team needs a lot of help in the lower weights now," Harvard Coach Jim Peckham said. "In the last 16 matches we've only won two of those [in the lower weight classes]. In the upper weights where our strength lies, there are all seniors and juniors. If we don't get a good recruiting system going, it might be a while before we see sunshine."

The Crimson also had to contend with the other teams' different approaches to wrestling.

"It was frustrating wrestling against Worcester," Farrell said. "Their guys didn't come out to beat us but came out to keep it a close game. They stalled against us and weren't being offensive, which made it hard for us to score."

"We as a team have a different philosophy," Farrell continued. "You should never send someone out not to get beaten badly--they should go out to try to win. It defeats part of the competitive spirit."

The absence of injured Co-Captain Jeff Clark from competition also hindered Harvard's chances for victory.

"Had everyone been healthy it should have been a match that we'd have won easily," Peckham said. "We need a little bit more depth and balance than what we have."

Peckham, in his first season as the Harvard wrestling coach, is in the process of revamping and expanding the wrestling program so it can gain the "depth and balance" it needs, in addition to intensifying the training program with year-round weight training, exercising, and nutrition advice.

"Things are really working out with the coach," Farrell said. "Some guys were concerned that he might not understand the problems of Harvard wrestlers after coaching at the Olympic level, but he has been very responsive to the desires of the team while trying to build up the program. He's making sure it's still fun, because when it's not fun any longer then there's something wrong."