Wrestlers Launch New Season; Squad Faces Dartmouth Today

Like a good wine, wrestlers improve with age. Last year, the varsity wrestling team won six out of ten matches, good enough for fourth in the unformalized Ivy League.

Seven of the eight-man team were sophomores, graduates of an undefeated Class of '59 freshman squad. This year, bolstered in the weak divisions by members of last year's squad, the varsity appears a sure bet to improve its showing.

They open with Dartmouth this afternoon in Hanover. Last year the Indians' first in organized wrestling, the Crimson won a shutout, 34 to 0. This year, outside of Fred Pitzner at 177 lbs., the Green should not provide much opposition.

Coach Bob Pickett intends to move all his wrestlers up a notch for this match rather than force them to shed poundage this early in the season.

Therefore, he will have Tom Myers, normally a 115 pound man, at 123. Although the senior has been a member of the squad for three years, and Pickett regards him highly, there has been no weight class for him.

Junior Dave Skeels, the team's best lightweight, will move up to 130 lbs. Last year Skeels won seven of his ten matches, and was one of the steadiest performers on the team. This year, Pickett says he has become more aggressive and that his added experience should make him one of the best in the East.

Last year's freshman captain, John Watkins, who normally wrestles at 130 lbs., will open at 137. He could make the 130 lb. position one of the varsity's strongest. Pickett rates this weight one of the toughest classes for this season.

Orrin Hein, another sophomore, will wrestle at 147 lbs., although junior Bob Crook will give him a stiff fight for his normal 137 spot. Crook won five of eight last year as the varsity regular at 137 lbs.

Joe Noble, at 157 lbs., split his ten matches last year as a 147 sophomore, but he faced most of the outstanding wrestlers in the league then.

Steve Weddle, a consistent performer for last year's Yardlings, will open at 167 lbs. He will have a tough fight for the 157 lb. post from Jack Eastling and Joe Goodman.

Pickett has not decided between juniors Tom Hill and Dick Sullivan for 177 lbs. Sullivan was undefeated as a freshman, but sat out last year.

Captain Foster Outstanding

By far the finest of the lot is Captain Bob Foster, who was undefeated last season as a sophomore. Pickett prefers not to use him until after the vacation because of an old football injury.

Sophomore Ted Robbins, a big, rugged strongman, has cinched the heavyweight position. He went undefeated last year.