Harvard's swimming team thrashed about ineffectually for the first eight events against perennial pushover Springfield last night at the IAB, but rallied in the last three races to win its first meet of the year 53-42.

Captain Bruce Fowler was out with a cold, but breaststroker Bob Corris, record-holder Bill Shrout, and those heralded sophomore sprinters took up the slack as the Crimson won seven of eleven events.

Springfield grabbed a 7-0 lead by up-setting Harvard's 400-yard medley team on a fast, come-from-behind anchor freestyle leg. Then Springfield's Phil Daly held off Harvard's fast-closing Jim Soubold to capture the 200-yard freestyle in a slow 1:53.5. Harvard dropped its third consecutive event when Phil Chase was barely nosed out in the 50.

Bill Shrout, the fastest swimmer in Harvard history, led Henry Frey in a one-two Crimson sweep in the 200-yard individual medley. Shrout's time was 2:04.9 missed the University record he set as a freshman last year by 1.4 seconds.

Junior transfer John Friedman twisted his way to a narrow victory in the dive, but Springfield still led, 23-20.

Olympic silver medalist Neville Hayes loafed through the first 100 yards of the 200-yard butterfly, then quickened his pace and fialled to an easy victory in a slow 2:03.8. Shrout predictably won the 100-yard freestyle and Harvard gained the lead for the first time, 31-30.

The 200-yard backstroke was a debacle for the Crimson as Springfield's John Shea led his teammate Steve Olson to a sweep. The fans gasped: Harvard was down 38-32 with only three events left.

Sophomore Pete Adams took the lead from a tired Hayes in the 500 after 100 yards and from then on it was clear sailing. Hayes, swimming with only 15 minutes' rest held off a Springfield challenge and sprinted the last 50 yards to complete Harvard's second sweep of the night.

Bob Corris' performance in the 200-yard breaststroke almost made the crowd forget Fowler's absence. He pulled away steadily and glided to an eight-yard victory in 2:21.7. Corris also was timed unofficially in 1:02.5 for his 100-yard leg in the medley relay.

Going into the last event, the 400-yard freestyle relay. Harvard led 46-42, but the outcome of the seven-point relay would decide the meet.

Leadoff man Phil Chase gave sophomore Steve Coy a two-foot lead and Coy's quick, choppy strokes propelled him to a seven-yard margin. His split was a fast 50.5 seconds. Jim Seubold added two more yards, and Shrout, swimming a 49.6 leg, coasted home for a five-yard victory in 3:21.7.

The freshmen won their meet easily, 63-32.