Grapplers Take a Split

The Harvard men's wrestling team split a doubleheader yesterday at the Malkin Athletic Center, defeating Albany State, 30-10, and losing to Penn, 26-16.

The Crimson's record now stands at 4-5 in dual meets, though its loss to Penn puts the hosts in a 0-2 Ivy League hole. The Quakers raised their Ivy record to 1-0.

Tim Kierstead led the grapplers with a win and a tie. He defeated Penn's Henry Franklin 9-4, scoring three reversals in the process. In the last thirty seconds against Albany's Chris Zogby, Kierstead escaped a hold and was also awarded a penalty point to deadlock the score.

"Kiersted has improved 100 percent in the last week," said Harvard Coach Jim Peckham. "His work on the mats in practice has been great."

Other winners against Penn included Todd Cameron at 118-lbs., Mark Vandermyde at 142-lbs., and Co-Captain Pete Holmes in the 167-lb. slot. The Quakers, assured of factory, forfeited the 190-lb. match.

"We didn't get the bugs out of our system until the Albany meet," said Peckham. "I wouldn't bet against us if we were to wrestle [Penn] again, tomorrow."

Harvard does have security in Holmes. Though he did not wrestle against Albany, he remains undefeated this season with an overall record of 6-0-1. Against Penn's Doug Harold, Holmes scored five take-downs en route to a 14-1 thrashing.

An underpopulated Albany squad, the big loser yesterday at the MAC, was forced to default in the 118-lb. and in the heavyweight contests. Its misery was furthered by losses to Harvard's Jeff Barey at 134-lbs., John Freeman at 150-lbs., David George at 167 lbs. John Willoughby at 177-lbs., and Alex Konovalchik in the 190-lb. match.

George's triumph was arguably the most dramatic of the afternoon. The Eliot House sophomore trailed the entire match until he took Albany's Rick Randy down with 50 seconds left and assumed the lead, 11-9. In the battle of first names, George forced Randy out of bounds, foiling the latter's attempts for a tying point.

Willoughby spotted Chris Roberts a quick takedown, but then scored 12 unanswered points. Konovalchik did Willoughby one better. shutting out Albany's Tom Gesky, 7-0.

The Crimson's hectic weekend continues this afternoon at 12 p.m. at Malkin when Princeton and Boston College will visit for another triangular meet.