Swimmers Sink Midshipmen, 69-44

The Harvard swimming team began its second season under head coach Don Gambrill in impressive fashion Saturday as the sophomore and freshman-dominated squad walloped outclassed Navy, 69-44, in a meet for more one-aided them the final score.

Displaying overwhelming strength is almost every race, the Crimson took 10 of 13 first points, five 1-2 sweeps, and won every individual swimming event on the program. For the large enthusiastic crowd at the IAB, the contest was virtually over after the medley relay as Harvard sprinted to an embarrassingly easy 31-3 lead before easing off for the rest of the afternoon.

What little suspense there was in the workmanlike rout came in the opening relay. The Crimson held a two-body-length lead into the final leg, where sophomore Mike Cook, returning after a year's absence, held off a charge by the Midshipmen's top swimmer, Rex Hand for an exciting win.

To Win

As a result of a lack of suspense and competition, Harvard's vast potential was barely tapped as Crimson swimmers, in many instances, swam to win and not to beat the clock. There were, however, many good early-season performances, particularly from freshmen and in the freestyle events.

"This year's freshman team may be better than last," Gambril said yesterday, and while the point is debatable, several freshmen did have outstanding Harvard debuts. Hess Yatema, whom Gambril considers the best all-round swimmer on the team, nipped Crimson captain Fred Mitchell in the 200-yd. free with a very fine 1:45.1 clocking, and he was used only sparingly.

Tom Wolf appears to have field a Harvard weakness in the backstroke as the freshman turned in a fine medley relay leg before breaking the University record in the 200-yd. bach with a 2:02.4. Most remarkable of the freshman performances, however, were those of John Craig. Craig. participating in his first organized scholastic meet (he did not swim on a high school team) won the 200-yd fly and had a good leg in the relay.

Last year's stars, the celebrated quarter of Mitchell. Rich Baughman, Dave Brumwell and Tim Neville, continued to dominate their specialties Saturday on well. Mitchell turned in the best performance of the meet, outdueling Hand to take the 100-yd. free in a career-best time of 47.8.

Baughman, who has been the Crimson pacesetter in workouts, won a jeisurely 1000-yd. free and breezed to a first in the 500-yd. free.

Brumwell coasted to a win in the 200 I.M. and completed his double with a very fine 2:17.5 clocking in his specialty, the 200-yd. breast stroke. Neville tied the Harvard pool record with a 21.9 performance in the 50-yd. free.

"I'm obviously very pleased." Gambril said after the meet. "There has been quite an improvement over last year." How much of an improvement there has been probably won't be known until the Dartmouth meet in early January.