Crimson Swimming Captain Winner of Bingham Award

John R. Pringle, '63, two-year All- American and captain of the 1963 Harvard swimming team, has been named winner of the William J. Bingham Award, the University's highest athletic honor. He received the award last week.

The award is given annually to "the member of the graduating class who, because of his integrity, courage, leadership, and athletic ability, has best served the high purposes of Harvard as exemplified by former athletic director William J. Bingham." Last year the award went to Mark Mullin, holder of the University record in the mile run.

In this year's N.C.A.A. meet, Pringle accounted for all of Harvard's 12 points by finishing second in both the 400 yard individual medley and the 200 yard backstroke and fifth in the 200 yard individual medley.

Sparked Win Over Yale

It was also Pringle who sparked the 1962 Crimson team to the first Harvard win over Yale since 1938. In the 48-47 victory over the Eli, he won first place in the individual medley and backstroke, and second place in the breaststroke.

Pringle, who came to Harvard from Evanston, Ill., Township High School, was an All-American choice in both his junior and senior years. As a junior he won the Eastern Seaboard 200-yard individual medley, and this year he was first in the 400-yard individual medley.

According to coach Bill Brooks, Pringle would be an outstanding candidate for a berth on the 1964 Olympic Team in the 400-yard individual medley. Next fall, however, he plans to give up competitive swimming and enter the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to study biology.