Tigers Roar Past Crimson Grapplers

The Crimson wrestling squad dropped its fourth of its last five meets Saturday afternoon when the Princeton Tigers roared into town with an older and craftier team which calmly decimated a predominantly freshman lineup of Crimson matmen, 25-13.

Despite an overall 10-4-1 record, the Harvard grapplers are still winless in Ivy League competition after four attempts.

Junior Rick Kief's adjustment to the 142-lb. slot has improved with each bout. The broad-shouldered veteran, who used to starve himself trying to make a lighter class, is thriving on the extra calories.

Princeton's Dave Trombadore held a size advantage, but the quick and agile Kief put Trombadore off balance with a long spin move and then chased the disoriented Tiger off the mat with a punishing ankle ride and a series of take downs which earned the Crimson grappler a 10-4 win.

Paul Widerman avenged a 1979 defeat, topping Tiger 118-pounder Bill Hawley, 13-2. The Princeton senior danced around the mat, trying unsuccessfully to escape Widerman's never-ending series of low single and double leg manuevers.

The final bright spot for the Crimson was the apparent good health of heavyweight Jim Phills. He wiped out all doubts about his recent knee troubles with a string of demolition derby moves over Bob Garthwaite, leading to a quick first period pin.

Too Shallow

Lack of depth through the middle continues to plague the wrestlers. Yardling Todd Gutchow gamely shifts classes each week, often spotting over 15 pounds to defend the Crimson at 150 lbs. The natural 134-pounder usually finds bigger men like Tiger Ned Pelgier, a 19-8 winner Saturday, waiting to take advantage of the size deficit. Tyler Jacks fights similar weight give-aways at 177 lbs.