Swimmers, Wrestling Team Face Service Academies Here

For the first time this season, the wrestling team will be decided underdogs this afternoon when Army's mighty mat corps returns the visit the Crimson paid to West Point last winter. Harvard will be looking to extend its winning skein to four when the first match gets started in the Blockhouse at 3 p. m.

The future officers will provide Captain Bob Claflin at all with their most formidable opposition of the campaign. With victories over every foe on their schedule except Lehigh (eastern intercollegiate champions), Army is experienced, well-coached, and like all West Point teams, in perfect physical condition. Army's esprit de corps cannot be overlooked either.

There'll Be Some Changes Made

Butch Jordan has not had it so easy, Injuries and graduation have forced the genial mentor to revamp his lineup until only three men are wrestling in their regular slots. Buddy King, who competed at 145 in the MIT and Wesleyan bouts, returns after sitting out the Columbia match; Claflin makes his second start at 175 and his home debut; and Howie Houston, a potential national champ, holds down the heavyweight chores.

The most interesting match of the day should be the heavyweight duel, which pits Houston against Benny Davis, a tackle on the Army football team. However, Army's top wrestler is probably Ralph Raabe, eastern intercollegiate champ three years ago at 121, runner-up the following year, and number two man at 128 last season.

Raabe Assignment Goes to Coombs

This year he is wrestling at 136, where he will oppose Dave Coombs, regular Crimson 121-pounder who is being forced to fill in for the injured Roger Wach. Except for one performance two years ago as a freshman 128-pounder, Coombs has never wrestled out of his class.

The 121 and 128-pound affairs, featuring Joe, Kozol and Bob Abboud, should be fairly even fights; King's opponent, Abe Allen, lost by one point to Dan Ray last year; Chuck Olentine, who will face Harvard's Rod Skinner at 155, bowed to Don Louria for two years but was never pinned; Stan Thompson, at 165, will be rated over Dean Mulder; Claflin will take on Philo Lange, former Exeter wrestling captain and an All-American lacrosse player.

Despite the general turnover in his personnel, Jordan is optimistic about the outcome of the match. Still, Army's stay in Cambridge is bound to be more pleasant than Harvard's disastrous West Point sojourn last year.