Schollander, Shrout, Adams Bow Out As Swim Season Closes Against Elis

It has been a rough year for Harvard's varsity swimming team, and the last meet of the season promises no respite. The Crimson tankers take on the superstars of Yale today at 4 p.m. in New Haven.

Yale's Payne Whitney Gym, long the Mt. Olympus of Eastern League swimming, today witnesses the last appearance of one of its immortals. Don Schollander, the 1964 Olympic Gold Medalist, is bowing out as captain of the awesome Eli team.

Schollander can swim almost any event and it is still uncertain where he will compete today. He holds the American record of 1:41.2 for the 200-yard freestyle. Against Dartmouth on February 17, he swam in the 1000-yard free for the first time and set a Yale record of 10:17.4. By contrast the Harvard record, set by Bill Shrout last Saturday against Cornell, is 10:35.9.

Durable

Schollander's talent can be matched only by his durability. In the topsy-turvey world of swimming where 14- and 15-year-olds often dominate and swimmers reach and pass their peaks quickly, old man Schollander has stayed on top for over five years. "I wanted to prove that I could do what other champions couldn't--stay on top for more than two or three years," he told the CRIMSON last year.

Today he will gain further evidence for his case against Harvard. Shrout, one of the champions who couldn't stay on top, will very likely be Schollander's competition. Last year Don edged him out in the 50-yard freestyle. This year his victory could come in the 50, 200, 500, or 1000-year free, or all four.

It is unlikely, however, that Yale coach Phil Moriarity will swim Schollander in more than one or two events. Lopsided scores aren't in the best Ivy League tradition, and Moriarity will want his star rested for the Eastern championships at Princeton next week.

Shrout, along with Pete Adams, team captain Pete Alter and backstroker Al Birch, will be swimming in his last dual meet for Harvard. Shrout was at his best in his freshman year. His fastest times in the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle events and in the 200-yard Individual Medley were all set then.

Adams, on the other hand, has improved. A tough man in a tight spot, he was tapped by Harvard coach Bill Brooks as anchor man for the crucial final relay against Princeton. He also won the 1000-yard freestyle that day and placed second in the 100 free.

Normally considered a long distance swimmer, Adams is also competent in the shorter distances. Last week against Cornell he won the 200 and 100-yard freestyle, while Shrout took the 500 and 1000 yard events. There is a chance that Adams will be the one who draws Schollander for competition today.

Alter

Team captain Pete Alter--also a senior--has been overshadowed all year by the Eastern three-meter champion, junior Bill Murphy. But Alter has come through with the seconds that the team really needed to supplement its superstars' victories.

The other senior who will be ending his career today is backstroker Al Birch. Backstroke has been Harvard's weakest event ever since 1962 when Bob Kauffmann left, but this year was a little more encouraging. Birch, like Adams, had the ability to produce under pressure. Against Army, he won his event to keep Crimson hopes alive, and against Princeton his surprising second foiled a Tiger attempt to take the lead. In both meets he swam over his head to keep the team's chances alive.

Much of the season the whole team swam over its head. A 6-3 record and fifth place in the Eastern Seaboard League are far from indicative of the season. With the exception of the Dartmouth meet where the Big Green, inspired by the rarity of females present in Hanover for the Winter Carnival, swamped the Crimson, Harvard has had an exciting season.

Touchout

The two teams which had chances to upset Harvard, Navy and Cornell, were both crushed, 66-47 and 72-41 respectively. The two teams which Harvard had a chance of upsetting, Army and undefented Princeton, barely escaped with their trunks. Both meets went into the last event, the 400-yard freestyle relay, and both times the Crimson was just barely touched out.

The key to the season was lack of depth. Rarely were the superstars upset, Murphy against Princeton and everybody against Dartmouth. Only a gradual wearing down of the reserves left Harvard defeated. Shrout, Adams, and John Bragg all swam in two events in addition to the crucial final relay. Shrout would swim the gruelling 500-yard freestyle and one event later the relay. The effort was always too much, and in the Princeton and Army meets the larger, better balanced team won. But not by much. Today, unfortunately, it will probably be much.