Swimming

OPTIMISM is the key word in Dartmouth's 1965-66 swimming team quarters.

Returning for what I believe to be the most talented squad in the history of the sport at Hanover are eight senior and eight junior letter-winners. Add another 13 numeral-winners from last year's topnotch freshman team and you begin to sense our enthusiasm. It is the best balanced squad in my tenure as head coach.

Led by two-time captain and ace butterfly Tom Hoober, the team faces a rough schedule. However, with better balance throughout, the Big Green will be really "up" for every meet on the schedule.

The freestyle events, the strongest and deepest part of the team, will have seniors Bill Fryberger, Ed Larner, and Steve Shipps, backed up by juniors Tony Dalrymple - the most improved sprinter on the team - and Pete Hayes. The addition of soph Brad Lindeblad, who owns every freestyle record at Dartmouth, along with Ben Johnson, another soph speedster, completes the list of top-ranking sprinters.

Distance star John Van Orden will get strong competition from last year's freshman captain, John Ziegenhagen, both of whom took turns a year ago breaking College distance records.

The breaststroke chores will be ably handled by junior Don Wehrung, who will get welcome support from sophs Art Gramer and Tom Stonecipher.

Vastly improved performances in diving can be expected from senior Bill Hobson, who is equally at home on the one- or three-meter boards, with help coming from sophs Dick Harwood and Dick Jones.

Sophomore Mark Battin will prove a worthy running mate for senior Henry Art in the backstroke events. These two will get stern competition from junior Pete Nelson and soph Dick Dericks.