Wrestlers Battle Hopeless Odds In Coast Guard Tourney Today

The Harvard wrestling team hasn't a prayer of winning the team championship at the Coast Guard Academy Tournament today in New London. Conn., but Coach Bob Fickett will still be watching his individual wrestlers for more clues to the Crimson's prospects this season.

The Coast Guard tournament is ordinarily a modest affair, but this year one of the guest teams will be Oklahoma State, a team that collects national championships like some people collect hotel towels. No one is very likely to make State work up more than a mild sweat.

But Harvard has several wrestlers who get close to the top in their divisions. Ed Franquemont at 152 in the best of the group, and captain Tom Gilmore at 137 and Howie Durfee at 145 both scored well-executed victories in Harvard's 29-10 rout of M.I.T. Tuesday.

Ustake Sure Thing

Oklahoma State's Yojiro Ustake at 130 looks like the sure thing of the tournament. Uetake is an Olympic champion has never lost a collegiate match, and his photograph graces the cover of a national collegiate wrestling handbook.

Syracuse, minus the services of behemoth Jim Nance, now playing fullback for the Boston Patriots, should fight for second place with Army, Hofstra, and Maryland. East Stroudsberg and Mankato State, two small colleges that make a fetish of wrestling, are also strong.

Wesleyan, Massachusetts, M.I.T., Kings Point, and Coast Guard have also entered. Harvard is the only Ivy League competitor.