They're Wrestling Again at Dartmouth
THE newest sport on the Dartmouth athletic scene is, oddly enough, one of the oldest forms of sport known to man wrestling. After sporadic attempts to introduce wrestling immediately before and immediately after World War II, the sport was given a major boost when Corey Ford, author and humorist, made gymnasium facilities available four years ago in a former volleyball court building adjoining his Hanover residence.
The first season was spent in organizing and reviving interest in wrestling. During the 1953-54 season the Dartmouth Wrestling Club, as it was christened, had one match scheduled, defeating M.I.T. 23-18. Last year the wrestlers lost to Amherst 20-14, tied the Coast Guard Academy 14-14, and then lost to the Coast Guard 20-6. This past winter the Indians, moving into almost a full-time schedule, came up with a record of one win, one tie and four defeats as they lost the opener to Amherst 22-10, were defeated by Coast Guard 22-15, won over McGill 33-3, tied Tufts 12-12, and lost to M.I.T. 20-16 and to Colgate 18-12.
Jim Nevitt, a junior from Bedford, Pa., who is president of the Club and does most of the coaching, sums up the past season this way: "We lost three very close matches which we might have won. We have a good nucleus for next year and with more student interest and support, plus possibly some backing from the Dartmouth Athletic Council including recognition for letter awards, I think wrestling will be here to stay."
Dartmouth's Director of Athletics, Red Rolfe, agrees that wrestling seems to be making real progress as a sport, although on an unofficial basis, and reports that the Athletic Council will give "serious consideration to the Club's application for eventual recognition and letter awards."
Assisting Nevitt with the Wrestling Club are Dan Serby, a junior, who handles the managerial chores, and Fred Pitzner, a sophomore, who helps with the coaching.
All the present team members had wrestling experience in high or prep school. Harvey Weiss '57, the 123-pound entrant, for example, is a former New Jersey school champion; Bill Draper at 147-pounds was captain of the Mercersburg wrestling team and finished third in the Eastern prep competition; while the Dartmouth captain, John Palmer '56, who went undefeated in three years of Dartmouth wrestling, was an outstanding performer at Cedar Rapids (Iowa) High School.
Since wrestling is run on a club basis, freshmen are eligible for the team. Two '59's, Hank Reuling at 167-pounds and heavyweight Tim Miller, both had outstanding school records, with Reuling capturing the New England prep school title at Exeter and Miller winning sectional honors and finishing second in the state competition while at Evansville (Indiana) High School. Two other freshmen, Pete Scott and Fred Davidson, who split honors in the 137-pound weight ranks, senior Lee Richardson at 130-pounds and Bob Bickell '58 at 177-pounds, all had secondary school experience before coming to Dartmouth.
Nevitt points out that there are many other good wrestling prospects in College. More than 100 turned out for an intramural wrestling tournament sponsored by the Club this winter, and he feels that if more men can be encouraged to try out for the squad and if student support can be focussed on the Club, the future will be bright.
"Dartmouth is the only Ivy Group college without a formal wrestling team," Nevitt says, "and I hope we can soon remedy this situation."
Like rowing at Dartmouth, which is also on a club basis, wrestling's chief problem is finances. Corey Ford has helped out in this respect also, and sale of tickets and contributions have enabled the Club to keep moving, although members still must bear all travel expenses plus costs for equipment and other incidentals. This serves to discourage some candidates.
The team also has a coaching problem. Nevitt and Pitzner have been handling this chore, but would like to recruit a faculty member or DCAC coach with wrestling experience to take over on a more formal basis. The Club also would like to start a freshman team in place of having freshmen compete with upperclassmen for varsity berths.
Basically, more funds would solve most of the problems. This past year the Club operated on the proverbial shoestring with a total budget of $300. Estimated needs on an annual basis range upwards from $2,500, but with the Athletic Council operating deeply in the red, it is unlikely that financial backing for a wrestling program at Dartmouth will come from that source.
However, club members are hopeful that DCAC recognition, an expanded schedule next year and a larger number of candidates, together with support from outside friends, will allow the Club to move forward and establish wrestling as an important sport at Dartmouth.
Practice session in the Corey Ford Gym.
The Dartmouth wrestling squad: front row (l to r)—Harvey Weiss '57, Lee Richardson '56, Pete Scott '59, Bill Draper '57, Hank Rueling '59, Bob Bickell '58 and Tim Miller '59; back row-Dan Searby '57, John Chilson '59, Bob Worthington '59, Dick Mason '57, Mike McKenzie '59, Jim Nevitt '57, Corey Ford, and Fred Pitzner '58.
