Crimson Swimmers Post Victories Over Weekend

The Crimson aquamen tucked another victory under their belts Saturday afternoon, when they blew visiting Navy right out of Blodgett Pool on the way to an 80-32 massacre and their fourth consecutive dual meet win over the feeble Midshipmen.

After posting a decisive victory in the 400-yd. medley relay to kick off the afternoon, Harvard received its only suprise of the day, when Navy's Vince Smargesse upset Crimson diving ace Jeff Mul to capture first-place honors from the one-meter board.

Mule, clearly the more skilled of the two, fought off a case of shin splints earlier in the week, only to have them return to haunt him while going into the press for the inward one and a half. Not wanting a balk scored against him, Mule continued the dive and lost points trying to regain form in midair.

Taking advantage of his chance to reestablish superiority, the Harvard sophomore soundly defeated teammate Karl Illig and third place Smargesse on the high board later in the afternoon.

Co-captain Bobby Hackett disposed of all challengers on the way to easy wins in both the 1000-yd, freestyle and the 200-yd. individual medley.

Hackett's 9:38.09 for the 1000 is well off his University record 9:00.17. However, at this point in the season, the opportunity to work on a rough spot was more important than devastating the competition.

Saturday's race gave Hackett a chance to work on his second 500, the portion of his race he considers the weakest. By coming back in 4:30, after swimming a full morning workout, Harvard's distance ace demonstrated he is still King of the Hill on the Eastern Seaboard.

Also looking for a chance to test himself, Ted Chappell snared a third place in the 200-yd. breaststroke. Teammate Tom Royal entered unofficially and reached the wall first at 2:14.44. Credit for the win went instead to Harvard frosh Dean Putterman finishing at 2:16.22 to join classmates Jon Sappey and Tony Meier in posting their first collegiate wins.

For Chappell, using the second 100 of this event to simulate the breaststroke portion of the 400-yd. individual medley, the time of 2:17.32 was more than adequate for his first 200 breast ever. By tuning up his breaststroke, the sophomore expects to improve his already tough IM.

Navy's death was not without mercy as Harvard coach Joe Bernal and his crew of swimmers graciously tried to keep the fast sinking fleet of Midshipmen off the bottom. In addition to Royal four other individuals plus a free relay squad posted unofficial wins.

THE NOTEBOOK: Freshman Ben "Iron Man" Downs earned his nickname Saturday when he swam every single individual event.

Harvard 80, Navy 32

at Blodgett Pool, Cambridge

400-yd. medley relay--1. HARVARD 3:35.16 (Lockman 56.7, Carbone 58.2, Chappell 52.4, Maximoff 47.9); 2. HARVARD 3:35.27 (Seelen 54.6, Putterman 60.4, Miao 52.5, Meler 47.8)

1000-yd. freestyle--1. Hackett (H) 9:38.09; 2. Moe (N) 10:32.05

One-meter dive--1. Smarjesse (N) 263.60; 2. Mule (H) 251.30

200-yd. freestyle--1. Verdin (H) 1:44.53; 2. Countryman (H) 1:44.54

50-yd. freestylr--1. Carbone (H) 21.72; 2. Murphy (N) 21.93

200-yd. Individual medley--1. Hackett (H) 1:57.70; 2. Fernandez (N) 2:00.62

Three-meter dive--1. Mule (H) 295.10; 2. Illig (H) 252.00

200-yd. butterfly--1. Meler (H) 1:56.92; 2. Verdin (H) 1:57.70

100-yd. freestyle--1. Hile (N) 49.97; 2. Kiley (H) 50.03

200-yd. backstroke--1. Sappey (H) 2:01.00; 2. McCluskey (N) 2:02.87

500-yd. freestyle--1. Countryman (H) 4:45.03; 2. Maximoff (H) 4:45.42

200-yd. breaststroke--1. Putterman (H) 2:16.22; 2. Winner (N) 2:16.34

400-yd. freestyle relay--1. HARVARD 3:12.39 (Miao 48.2, Roberts 50.1, Chappell

46.9, Sappey 47.2); 2. NAVY 3:15.35 (Jaegers 48.4, Hile 50.5, Griffith 48.3, Murphy 48.2)