Some Up, Some Down

NOT all sports programs are on the upbeat at Dartmouth. Take squash for example. "I think the squash world has passed Dartmouth by," said second-year head coach Kirk Randall. "At one time, we were competitive with our opposition. Now we are not competitive. This disappoints me very much." Randall blames squash's slide on a variety of reasons. Hanover's location and limited 12-match schedule do not attract experienced players because they can't get good competition on a regular basis. He considers the courts adequate for play but "archaic" as far as spectator viewing is concerned. "Our facility is probably on the bottom as far as other Ivy League schools are concerned. Squash is not an important sport for the administrators at Dartmouth - we don't get any breaks from the Admissions Office," he said.

Of the top ten squash players at Dartmouth only three had previous playing experience. "There's been this feeling that tennis players could make good squash players and up to a point that's right," Randall said. "But we can't compete without the top players. The problem with the program is trying to compete against the best schools in the country with novices."

Randall feels Dartmouth could win a national championship in squash with a little extra effort from the College. About 25 schools compete in the national championships, which are usually dominated by Princeton, Pennsylvania, and Harvard. Dartmouth, despite its shortage of experienced players, finished in eighth place. Randall says he finds it enjoyable to see the progress made by his inexperienced players, but that enjoyment isn't going to win many matches. "I see myself as training these guys for the future. We're probably one of the few sports at Dartmouth where someone can come in as a beginner and compete at the national level in the four years that they are here. That's unique and nice, but it shows what a sorry state our program is in. I see squash at Dartmouth going downhill."

Another unhappy coach is Dale Rodgers, whose worries about funds for his fencing teams were reported in the last issue. At the end of the winter season, it was announced that the funds were indeed drying up and that Rodgers' job and the fencing program were in serious jeopardy.

The Records(through end of season) BASKETBALL Men (14-12) Women (17-7) HOCKEY Men (18.-8-2) Women (8-11-1) SWIMMING Men (4-7) Women (6-3) INDOOR TRACK Men (7-4) GYMNASTICS Men (4-5) Women (3-5) SQUASH Men (4-9) Women (9-3) FENCING Men (8-4) Women (8-3) SKIING Men: 5th in national championships Women: 3rd in national championships