CREW

The story of Dartmouth's 1970 heavyweight crew is yet to be told. At this moment, they have raced against only the University of Alabama in the second annual Kowliga Kup Regatta that wrapped up the 10-day training period on Lake Martin in Alabama.

The future will be history as this is read, however, and if all goes as expected, Dartmouth will have come through the sprint season with a record that surpasses the 1969 effort — and that is considered the best in Dartmouth rowing history. Perhaps the only hitch in Coach Peter Gardner's scheme is the Connecticut River which has been slow in becoming clear of ice this spring.

Last year, Gardner attributed much of Dartmouth's success to the Alabama training period. He reaffirmed the feeling after returning from Lake Martin this spring and the question remaining is how well the oarsmen have retained the edge during the three-week wait for good water on the Connecticut.

"Actually, I think we are a better crew than we were at this stage a year ago," said Gardner, who remedied the inability to row on the Connecticut by taking his oarsmen to Cambridge for a weekend to row on the Charles River.

Sophomores George Buesing and Jim Nicotri have moved into the boat with veterans Bill Pickard, John French, Captain Steve Tourek, Denny Bell, Deneys Purcell and Terry Adams, the stroke. John Eaton is the coxswain.

Penn and Harvard again appear to be the crews to beat. The Indians may come close but it will be a superior effort alone that puts them past the Crimson and Quakers. "We can be a very good crew," said Gardner, "but we have to continue to improve. We can't afford to level off and we can't afford injuries."

Tune in next month.