Matmen Host NCAA Meet Today at IAB

Due to a recent NOAA ruling, the number of entries, in the NCAA District I Wrestling Tournament today at the IAB is only a skeleton of the previously predicted field. Preliminary bouts are scheduled for 2 p.m. and the championship round starts at 7 p.m.

District I Tournament Director for the NCAA is Yale coach Bert Waterman, whose squad will not be competing as Yale is presently on the NCAA probation list and not allowed to participate in NCAA tournaments.

In a letter sent by Waterman to District I coaches, the director explained the rules which will guide this first year NCAA procedure of district qualifying before the Nationals. In the past schools have been able to send teams or individuals directly to the Nationals, but last year's overcrowded championships at Northwestern forced a change to the district format.

Unfortunately, NCAA Rule 12 has caused the cancellation from the District Tournament of Connecticut, Rhode Island. B. U., and B. C. The rule states. "It is expected that any institution entering contestants will send those wrestlers that qualify to the final NCAA Championships."

These schools cannot afford to send individuals to the Nationals at Auburn, Ala, and expected to participate in the Districts solely as a separate tournament for their wrestlers.

Hence, wrestlers Pat Coleman, Collin Mangrum, Mark Faller, and Rich Starr are among only 30 contestants entered in the ten weight divisions. In fact, participation is so low that Massachusetts Shelly Goldberg is the only individual slated to compete for two national qualifying spots at 134 pounds.

This is compared with over 200 entrants in the District II Tournament at Princeton. "It's sort of a fiasco but it should be rectified next year." Harvard coach John Lee said.