Wrestlers Resume Action Saturday In Quadrangler at Virginia Tech

A well-rested Harvard wrestling team travels to Blacksburg, Virginia this Saturday for a quadrangular meet with Indiana, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech.

"They are somewhat unknown quantities," Harvard coach John, Lee said Saturday in reference to the Crimson's upcoming opponents. "If we have the right line-up, though, we should have a good chance of winning."

The Crimson matmen will be back at full strength Saturday after a rash of injuries in early January forced several major changes in the starting alignment. Jim Abbott (heavyweight) has recovered from a knee injury, and Dave Scanlon, who had a boil on his leg, will start again at 190.

Accordingly, Tony Rayner will move back to 177 from 190, and Mark Faller, who moved up to replace Rayner at 177, will return to his customary 167.

Manager Erie Behrens is apparently out of a job at 134, where he filled in against M. I. T. and Cornell. Sophomore Rick Battle, a former Illinois state high school champion who did not wrestle as a fresh man last year, came out for the team last week and will step in immediately at 134.

"I was very glad to see him," Lee said of Battle, in an understatement. Harvard has not won a 134-pound bout this season.

Much of the problem at 134 has developed because captain Paul Catinelia (142) has not been able to make weight at 134, Originally he had hoped to hit 134 before Christmas, but could not make it. Then the deadline was moved to the Cornell meet. Once again, he missed it. The deadline was then changed for this Saturday.

Catinella has not been to practice since the Cornell meet, however, and it is doubtful that his weight is below 142 pounds. He will soon be challenged there by Pete Everts or junior Pat Coleman, who is definitely coming down to 142 from 150, Dean Sheppard would replace Coleman at 150.

In any case, the matmen are much stronger than at any time this season. With new-found depth at 134 and 142 and with several proven performers capable of switching classes in the heavyweights. Lee is more optimistic about the Crimson's chances in the Ivy League race.

"Penn and Princeton are still the teams to beat, but I think that this meet could give us a real boost." he said Saturday.

Harvard will wrestle Indiana, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech in succession Saturday afternoon. The periods will be six minutes rather than the usual eight.

Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech should offer the Crimson the stiffest competition. Although they have not been overly powerful as a team, Virginia Tech has had several fine individuals in past years. Bob Reed (142) appears to be the Gobbiers best performer this year.