Squash Team to Play Navy Squad at Annapolis Today

One of the strongest varsity squash teams in Harvard history journeys to Annapolis today to oppose a perennially powerful Navy squad in what, however, promises to be a rather easy victory for the Crimson.

With five potential number one men playing at the top five positions, Coach Jack Barnaby's varsity should overwhelm the Middies by at least a 6-3 count. In past years, Crimson squash teams have never defeated Navy on its home courts, because they are much warmer than those in Hemenway gymnasium.

This year, however, Barnaby has had the temperature in Hemenway increased by 15 degrees for the last ten days, to ready his players for Navy's faster, hotter courts. This preparation, coupled with the power and depth of the varsity, makes a Harvard victory seem almost inevitable.

At his usual first singles slot will be America's seventh ranked player, Ben Heckscher, backed up by Cal Place, Larry Sears, Charlie Hamm, and Charlie MacVeagh at second through fifth singles respectively for the varsity. Following at sixth through ninth singles will be Henry Cortesi, Pete Lund, Ed Wadsworth, and Hank Holmes.

Navy lost last week to Yale, so this match should provide some sort of measuring stick with which to predict performances against the Elis in March.

On Monday, the Crimson moves to Philadelphia to play a match with Penn. The Quakers should provide no more than token opposition to the varsity, for they have no courts of their own and must practice on club courts in the city.

After playing Penn, the varsity moves on to Princeton, where they play the Tigers, Tuesday afternoon. Princeton, with Ramsey Vehslege and Jim Farrin at the top two positions, is somewhat of an unpredictable team. Although it has no individual star such as Heckscher or Place, it is rather even down the line and, according to Coach Barnaby, could pose somewhat of problem.

However, since it seems very unlikely that any team this year will be able to hand a defeat to a member of the varsity's top five, the Princeton match, and indeed every other Crimson squash match this year, should be regarded as a fairly safe win. Only a bad case of overconfidence or several key injuries could jeopardize the team's chances for an undefeated season.

At the present time, the varsity's record on the season is 4-0, with wins over McGill, Cornell, Williams, and the Montreal Squash Club.