JV Swimmers Outlast Tufts, MIT; Take GBC's

For the sixth year in a row, the Harvard junior varsity men's swim team captured the Greater Boston Championships against strong competition from Tufts, MIT, and Boston College, each of which fielded varsity squads.

The J.V.s managed to beat their varsity opponents in 11 of the 15 events, but had to wait until the last man of the final relay touched home before they could claim victory. A Tufts swimmer who had started early was disqualified to void what would have been a one-point Jumbo victory.

Dan Kiley '81 outstroked his opponents by a full five seconds to land the 500-yd. freestyle, and later went on to sink the opposition in the 200-yd. version. Junior Eric Seder also proved a dominant double-winner, as he outraced Engineer Mark Huntziner by two seconds in the 200-yd. backstroke, and then sprinted to victory in the 100-yd. back.

Both Seder and Kiley hope to qualify for the Eastern Swimming Championships at Yale March 2-4, as do Craig Siegal, runner-up in the 500-yd. freestyle, and Kent Ashwood, victor in the 200-yd. Intermediate Medley.

The overall strength of the Harvard program is demonstrated by the goals the J.V. swimmers have set for themselves, as well as by their outstanding success in the GBC meet. The meet matched them against a Tufts squad which last season was ranked in the top 20 of the NCAA Division III, and an MIT team which followed Harvard in four of the Crimson's first six victories.

"This J.V. team is probably the eighth or tenth best Division III squad in New England," assistant coach Steve Berizzi said. "And they lack the cohesiveness of a varsity team, since they practice with our varsity. It just shows what great competitors they are," he added.

Berizzi also lauded his charges for the contribution their presence on the team makes, pointing out that at a Division I powerhouse such as Harvard, the J.V.s would have little chance of basking in varsity glory.

"These guys bust their butts with little reward, but as the program gains more meets, hopefully more like this one (the GBC) will be held, so they can prove themselves," Berizzi concluded.