In his first varsity match, Harvard sophomore Howie Freeman pulled out a fantastic, last-second victory over Cornell's Curt Barry to clinch a 20-14 win over the perennial Ivy wrestling champions.

It was Harvard's first victory over Cornell in the 17 years coach Bob Pickett has been here. Cornell has been Ivy wrestling champion in nine of the past 11 seasons. Its loss Saturday reduces Cornell's Ivy record to 64-3, snapping a 31-game win streak.

Weighing only 179, but filling in at the 191-pound slot, Freeman sent a Crimson squad that faced a tie--and possibly a heart-breaking loss--into a startling triumph.

The score of their match was 2-2 when Barry and Freeman went out of bounds with 25 seconds left. Barry was also assured of at least one point more for riding-time over Freeman, and it seemed that Harvard's then 17-11 lead would be cut to 17-14.

With Crimson sophomore Bob Panoff scheduled to face Cornell's co-captain Dick Moore in the final heavy-weight match, a final 17-17 tie or a 19-17 loss were possible.

But with a final heave, the smaller Freeman stood up from his bottom position, reached back for Barry's leg, then gripped him around the mid-section, and turned in.

He hung over Barry for an agonizing five seconds before the referee gave him the two points for a reversal. Freeman kept on driving, and when the final buzzer sounded, the ref gave him three more points for a near-pin, and a spectacular 7-2 win.

Crowd Goes Wild

The crowd went wild as Harvard forged to this impregnable 20-11 lead, and Freeman's happy teammates carried him back to the bench. With the win over Cornell. Harvard can go all the way to the Ivy title.

The victory was not Freeman's alone, of course. It took some gutty wins by lighter teammates to put him in position for the hero's role.

Howie Henjyoji (123) led things off with a fine 5-0 win over Rich Beck. But few expected sophomore Danny Naylor (130) to convincingly take Cornell co-captain Bob Stock.

Naylor spotted Stock about four inches in height and a couple of years in wrestling experience. But Naylor tore into Stock and twisted him down for a two point take-down and two points more for a predicament. Stock escaped immediately but the damage was done -- Naylor led 4-1 going into the second period. He hung on for a 5-2 win, despite a heel injury in the last minute.

Same Old Song

His surprise win seemed for naught when Cornell's star, Don New, pinned Mike Morris (137) and Bob Preeg beat Dave Stern (145), 8-1. Cornell had an 8-6 lead, and it looked like the same old song.

But Crimson captain Ed Franquemont (152) set his team straight again but pinning Dennis Wright at 4:58. Franquemont had outclassed Wright, and a win by points was assured, but the captain was out for a pin. Franquemont picked up point after point as he continually tied-up the shorter, rounder Wright but he couldn't slip in a pinning hold.

Finally, with the score 13-1, he yanked back Wright one more time, threw in a nelson, and nailed him. The Crimson had an 11-8 lead which it never relinquished.

Vital Victories

Jeff Grant (160) and Paul Padlak (177) contributed the other vital Harvard victories, while Chris Wickens lost a screamer, 9-6.