Inspired Eli Grapplers Surprise Crimson Squad

What was supposed to be a close wrestling match in New Haven Saturday afternoon turned into a bad beating for the varsity when the inspired Bulldog grapplers took unexpected points in the middle weight classes. Bob Pickett's varsity won only two of nine matches in falling to the Elis 20-10. In spite of the loss, the Crimson finished the season with a 4-2 mark--good enough for second place in the Ivy League.

Yale's Bob Foster easily decisioned Tom Gilmore 6-0 at the 123 pound class to give Yale an indicative 3-0 lead in the team scoring. But Mike Grase pinned his man at 120 to give the varsity a momentary 5-3 advantage. The 5 ft., 7 in. sophomore's pin was the only fall of the match.

Jack Lynn and John Daniels went under to their respective opponents at 137 and 147, offsetting Grase's points and putting Yale in front to stay. The varsity came out on top in only one of the final six matches.

One of the day's biggest surprises was Bruce Knapp's tremendous effort against Yale captain Jon Bogert. Knapp held the heavily favored Bogert to a draw by building up an early lead and hanging on until time ran out.

Trailing by four points, the Crimson had to have a victory from star grappler Fred Periera at 167 to stay in the match. But Yale's Dave Schaff topped Periera with a 12 to 4 score on a near pin.

Going the way of other Crimson grapplers, Ben Brooks and John Hoffman were decisioned in the heavier classes. Only Bob Fastov, wrestling unlimited, broke the Yale trend with a varsity win in the final match. Unfortunately, the team contest was long since over before he stepped onto the mats.