Swimming

At this writing the swimming team has a 3-3 record, but it has gained the respect of Dartmouth fans with a determined effort in every meet. Weakened before the season opened by the loss of several key freestylers, the Indian swimmers have shown good strength in every other event.

Back on January 20 the Green topped Springfield 57-38 and a week later was beaten by Army 56-39. Both of these meets were on the road. On February 3 the Green returned to Spaulding Pool where Columbia was beaten 69-26 and two records were broken. In the 400-yard medley relay, a. quartet composed of Bill Lewis, Don Wertz, Terry Bentley and Bob Rogers eclipsed the old Dartmouth record by three seconds with a time of 3:54.1. In the same meet Bentley came back to set a new pool and school record in the 200-yard butterfly. His pace-setting time of 2:05.9 was nearly two seconds better than the pool mark set in 1961 by a Princeton swimmer.

In one of the most thrilling meets seen here in years, the Green swimmers tangled with Navy during Winter Carnival. The medley relay team, this time including Jay Pierson, Wertz, Bentley and Al Davis, put Dartmouth out in front and set a new pool and College record doing it. The new mark now stands at 3:52.3. Bentley also turned in winning performances in the 200-yard individual medley and the 200-yard butterfly. Navy stayed within shooting range, capturing three out of the four freestyle events, plus some vital seconds and thirds.

With two events remaining, the Indians led 46-33 and needed only a second place in the 200-yard breaststroke to clinch the meet. Don Griffin of Navy, however, shattered the pool record for the event with a 2:24 flat and the Indians managed only a third place. This put the pressure on the 400-yard freestyle relay team with the winner taking all. For the first three legs the two teams were neck and neck, but Navy's anchor man, Mike Collins opened up a lead that was unbeatable. Not only did Navy win the meet 48-47; the 400-yard relay mark also went by the boards with a new time of 3:27.1.

The swimmers now face unbeaten Yale in their final home meet before finishing with three meets on the road.