UNH Prevails Over Grapplers, 21-20

The injury-plagued Harvard wrestlers dropped a 21-20 squeaker to the University of New Hampshire last night despite sterling efforts by co-captain Bill Mulvihill, heavyweight Craig Beling, Paul Wiederman, and Jon Franklin.

The matmen had hoped to dominate the UNH team in the lower weight classes (118-150 lbs.) to offset the anticipated tough matches in the heavier classes. However, Rich Corrado and Keith Oberg, wrestling at 126-lb. and 142-lb. respectively failed to win their matches.

In the Corrado match, with the score tied 8-8 at the end of the bout, the referee awarded an extra point to Wildcat Norm Saucey for riding time, which gave New Hampshire the victory.

Oberg put up a tough tussle, losing a close match by a 2-0 score. Both wrestlers failed to score in the first period, but Wildcat Doug Hess managed to garner a point on a quick escape in the second period and another for riding time in the third.

In the heavyweight class, Craig Beling flattened Joe Lacasse and pinned his adversary in convincing fashion at 6:04. At that point, Harvard trailed UNH by 14-21 and had no way of catching up.

Both Paul Wiederman and Jon Franklin totally dominated their UNH opponents, but failed to get the needed pin. Franklin had by far his best outing outscoring his opponent, 12-2, while Wiederman bested his UNH counterpart, 14-6.

Co-captain Mulvihill wrestled Marc Brown who resorted to "rope-a-dope" tactics and managed to escape a pin despite being overwhelmed.

UNH co-captain Chet Davis took advantage of inexperienced freshman Steve Deshenes, who wrestled out of his weight class. Wildcat Bob McNally, the defending New England champion, totally mauled Dave Potter, pinning him only 1:15 into the bout. Potter was wrestling in place of the injured John Scibetta who is suffering from a bad back.

In the 177-lb. class, Crimson matman John Williams won his match by a score of 10-4, while Doug Mason, returning from a back injury after a two week absence, fell by a similar score.