"We'll be hand pressed to repeat last year's performance." Harvard wrestling coach John Lee projected on the eve of his team's season opener against Wesleyan last December.

But even he did not envision that a 5-10-1 record would follow the 7-4 output of his first Crimson squad in 1968-69.

An eight-place finish in the Easterns last weekend. spearheaded by Mark Faller's runner-up performance at 167. brightened an otherwise dismal campaign. Lee admitted Monday night that things could have been much better.

"This year was a real disappointment both for me and for the team." he said. "But we just didn't have the talent to overcome our deficiency in the lower weights."

That deficiency developed over a long period during which recruitment failed to attract enough wrestlers at 118 and 126 and it was heightened on the Tuesday before the Wesleyan meet when senior Bruce Goodman quit the team.

Goodman a letterman at 126-and the Crimson's only experienced 126-pounder-could have been counted on for as many as ten victories, Instead. Steve Monsulik a sophomore with no wrestling experience, was pressed into service.

Most Improved

Monsulik managed only one victory in 15 starts, but paradoxically, was presented the Most Improved Wrestler award at Monday night's team banquet.

At 118, senior Tom Schnorr did not perform up to expectations. compiling a 5-11 mark, Goodman's presence at 126 however could have easily made up for this disappointment.

When captain Paul Catinelia was unable to make weight at 13? until the Rutgers meet in February the problem became even more acute Until sophomore Rick Hattle appeared on the seem in late January, the Crimson forfeited 134 except on the two occasions when manager Eric Behrens stepped in to salvage points.

Philosophically

The turn of events could not help but discourage a second-year coach. although through many years of wrestling experience, Lee came to accept the setbacks philosophically. There was always a tinge of optimism.

At one point when Harvard had won only one of its last seven matches. Lee mentioned that "none of these teams are unbeatable." The next day powerful Springfield handed the Crimson a 27? thumping.

Lee first became associated with Harvard wrestling as an undergraduate when he went undefeated in dual matches over a three-year period and captained the Crimson during his junior and senior years.

He was the national AAU champion a? 125 as a sophomore in 1951 and went on to place in both the AAT and NCAA national championships in 1952 and 1953.

Dick Farrington, a teammate throughout Lee's Harvard career, described him earlier this year as "always carrying his books in one hand and his wrestling gear in the other."

Lee graduated in 1953 and returned to coach the freshmen in 1956 after receiving an M.B.A. from Michigan. His Yardling teams compiled an 84-22-3 record over the next 13 seasons.