Crimson Matmen Destroy Bruins, 40-6

Employing a shuffled line-up, the Harvard wrestling team destroyed a hapless Brown contingent yesterday, 40-6, in a tuneup for this afternoon's contest with league-leading Yale.

The match at the IAB was highlighted by four Crimson pins, as Brown could only manage to win two of nine bouts.

Sophomore George Baker, wrestling at 134 Ibs., down from 142 lbs., turned in the most impressive performance of the afternoon by pinning his opponent in the first minute of the bout.

Crimson coach John Lee employed a new line-up in the match, placing three of his wrestlers, including Baker, at unaccustomed weight classes.

Lee said yesterday that he had formulated the line-up in anticipation of this afternoon's match with Yale.

"We know Yale is going to beat us in the top weights," Lee said, "so we decided to bring some of our men down to lower weight classes."

The new strategy appeared effective yesterday, as the three Crimson wrestlers who had shifted weight classes won convincingly.

In addition to Baker's victory, Bruce Johnson, down from 190 lbs. to 167 lbs., pinned Brown captain Rich Reach, while Bill Haley won at 134 lbs., down from his usual 142 lbs.

In other matches, Crimson captain Dan Blakinger turned in another fine performance at 118 lbs., as he destroyed Greg Bunt, 20-3.

Ty Richardson, wrestling on the varsity squad for the first time, turned in the most exciting finish of the afternoon by holding on in the final seconds to beat his Bruin opponent, 5-2.

Other Harvard winners were Mike Dee at 150 lbs., and Jim Strathmeyer at 177 lbs., who turned in a second-period pin on Bruin grappler Jeff Jacobs.

John Adler at 158 lbs., and Bart Vandissel at 190 lbs., both new to varsity competition, accounted for the two Crimson losses, while Brown forfeited the heavyweight bout because of an injury.

Lee said that Harvard has a good chance to upset the Bulldogs this afternoon at the IAB.

Figuring heavily in today's contest will be 142-lbs. Stuart Sundlin, who has been injured for the past week.

"Sundlin should be ready," Lee said, "He could have wrestled today, but since we didn't need him, I didn't want to risk it."

Yesterday's victory places the team's record at 6-7.