Down 12 to 3 with three matches remaining, the varsity wrestling team fought back to within one point of Princeton before succumbing 15 to 11 on Tiger captain John Hunt's 5 to 0 decision win over heavyweight Al Culbert. The match took place on the I.A.B. mats Saturday afternoon.

Tiger tactical superiority proved the Crimson's downfall. Princeton wrestlers showed an aptitude for crawling off the mat much to the consternation of the partisan crowd, and to the frustration of their Crimson opponents.

Bill Macaleer, at 157 constantly thwarted the Crimson's King Holmes, a last-minute replacement for Jack Eastling, by refusing to wrestle near the center of the mat. This nullified Holmes's greater superiority on his feet, for several times his takedowns at the edge of the mat were disallowed.

Holmes scored a third period escape, but not after Macaleer, who had previously gained an escape, had piled up one minute, 20 seconds of riding time to give him a 2 to 1 advantage and the decision.

Foster Pins

Tiger Bob Nell, at 167, tried the same technique, but undefeated Bob Foster finally pinned him with only seven seconds left in the match. Foster clapped a half-nelson and crotch on him with about 30 seconds to go, and it became a matter of whether he could beat the clock or not.

Captain Bob Gilmor's opponent at 177 pulled the same tactics, depriving Gilmor of a pin. He had to content himself with a decision on two takedowns and a reversal, plus time advantage.

The other Crimson win at 123 saw Dave Skeels control his man for much of the match, a first period takedown and riding time giving him the 3-0 advantage.

Heavyweights Decide

With the match hinging on the heavy-weights, Princeton's undefeated captain John Hunt completely controlled Al Culbert to take the crucial decision, 5 to 0 on a first period takedown, a third period reversal, and riding time.

Over-all, Princeton showed a great ability for quick escapes and reversals from the bottom position, which in the 137 and 147 proved decisive. At 137, Curt Dohan scored a quick second-period reversal and added riding time to gain a 3 to 0 decision over Bob Crook, while Tiger Bill Fortenbaugh scored a last period escape and takedown to defeat Joe Noble.

The summaries:

123--Dave Skeels (H) decisioned Dave Moulton, 3-0; 130--George McLaughlin (P) d. Paul Striker, 7-4; 137--Curt Dohan (P) d. Bob Crook, 3-0; 147--Bill Fortenbaugh (P) d. Joe Noble, 4-0; 157--Bill Macaleer (P) d. King Holmes, 2-1; 167--Bob Foster (H) pinned Ed Nell in 8:53 with half-nelson and crotch; 177--Captain Bob Gilmor (H) d. Dave Callard, 7-2; Unlimited--Captain John Hunt (P) d. Al Culbert, 5-0.