When it comes to swimming--or at any rate, Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming--the words "Yale" and "unbeatable" have become synonymous. The Elis have wound up on top of the League during the last several years with remarkable facility and monotonous consistency.

With almost as much ease, Coach Hal Ulen's Crimson swimmers lately have been winning the second spot. "They've all given up on Yale," Ulen comments rather sadly. "So they're gunning for us. We're the Poor Man's Champions and everybody is out for us."

Should Do Well

But, even with the rest of the Eastern League aiming for an upset over Harvard, the Crimson should fare no worse this season than it has in the past two. The squad is almost an exact duplicate of the 1951-52 team which won nine out of ten meets-only Captain Bob Stroud and back-stroker Hugh Hartwell were graduated.

Ulen's pessimism is perhaps justifiable on two grounds. First, most squads will be "up" for the Crimson. Secondly, the Crimson sadly lacks depth. "That's always been a trouble of ours--we've been lean. When we swim Yale, they have a bench full of guys in Blue uniforms streching from one end of the pool to the other. Our squad looks pretty small."

Millard Loss Hurts

The loss of Pete Millard because of ineligibility will also hurt, but Ulen claims he will be back in February.

With strength in almost every department, the Crimson is most powerful in the free-style events, particularly the sprints. "I think we can make a showing against Yale in the sprints," Ulen said. "But nobody can touch them in the distance events."

Against Springfield, the Crimson swept every freestyle event but one--the 440, which was won on a record-breaking performance. Ulen has John McNamara, Dave Hedberg, and Captain Ron Huebsch--all seniors--for the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events. McNamara won at Springfield in 60-yard sprint-ten yards longer because the Springfield pool is a 20-yard affair, rather than the customary 25. Hedberg scored a double victory, in the 100 and 220 freestyle races.

For the distance events, Ulen will use Ted Whatley and Mary Sandler and when he regains his eligibility, Millard.

Junior Ralph Zani and senior Ken Emerson give the Crimson a lot of strength in the breast-stroke. Zani and Emerson finished first and second in the 200-yard event against Springfield, scoring a surprise upset victory over Maroon star Bill Yorcyk, a National Finalist.

Although the Crimson lacks depth in the back-stroke, it can usually count on junior Don Mulvey when he's around.