For the first time in years, Harvard's varsity wrestling team has the talent to win bouts at every weight class. But an absence of depth in many classes and the presence of several freshman in key positions forces coach John Lee to face the upcoming season with high hopes and great uncertainty.

Last year Lee recorded the finest wrestling season that a Harvard squad has ever compiled. Against the longest and toughest Crimson schedule, the wrestling team finished 14-5, second in the Ivy League, and won 10 of its last 12 matches. Highlight of the season was a 17-15 victory over Springfield, the first loss the Indians had suffered in New England since 1959.

The success of the '70-71 squad rested on the sholders of a nucleus of eight seniors. As freshman they had led the Yardlings to an undefeated record, but their sophomore and junior records were disappointing. As juniors, they were only 5-10-1, but most of those losses came on three or four point margins.

"Those seniors had the guts to stick through the losing seasons until last winter. We were weak in the same places last year, but we got the breaks we had been losing and won the two and three point decisions," Lee said.

Last year's record season was especially rewarding because the Crimson opened most matches with an assured ten-point deficit. Without a top-quality lightweight, Harvard dropped 34 of 38 bouts at 118 and 126 and had to rally in the closing bouts to win.

This year's squad could be the antithesis of last year's team. With eight lettermen gone. Lee has to rely on developing a very small squad. "We have good personnel, but not enough of them," Lee said. "Hopefully, handling a small squad in practice will avoid injuries."

On the very bright side, Harvard should enter the 134 lbs. bout with a strong lead on almost any team. At 118 Lee has recruited sophomore Dan Blackinger, a Pennsylvania State High School Champion.

As a freshman, Blakinger placed fourth in the National AAU tournament at 114.5. Blakinger not only won the Freshman Eastern 118 lbs. title at West Point, but he was also named the tourney's outstanding wrestler.

Lee emphasized the quality of Blakinger's performance. "Wrestling generally attracts small kids," Lee said. "Wrestling at a higher weight level is easier because the competition is less demanding. Blackinger beat the best of wrestlers."

At 126, Lee has recruited freshman Carl Biello, a two-time national prep school champion from Newark. N.J. Biello is coming to Harvard after a year of post-graduate work at the Hill School.

With Blakinger and Biello, Lee felt confident enough to state that. "We have squared away our deficiency at the lower weight classes. These boys more than make up for the loss through graduation at the higher weights."

Lee has experience at 134 with letterman Jerry Kahrilas. As a sophomore, Kahrilas was forced to wrestle some of the season at 126. In the higher class Lee predicts that the experienced Kahrilas could win 90 per cent of his matches.

Junior Josh Henson, 12-6-1 at 134 last year, will advance to 142 lbs. along with Junior Jon Peters (8-4 last year). With five triangulars or quandrangulars on the schedule, Lee will have to substitute more freely this winter or rely heavily on stamina.

The one early disappointment on the squad is the loss of an outstanding freshman prospect at 150, John Cuyler. A three-time New York State champion and the 1971 Tourney's outstanding wrestler. Cuyler "could have wrestled for a national champion such as Oklahoma State" according to Lee. But the freshman has decided to postpone entering Harvard for another year. "He would have easily replaced Pat Coleman and been far ahead of anyone else here," Lee sighed.

Harvard will now rely on freshman Borris Holmes or junior Jerry Hall at 150. Lee feels they both have talent but may not withstand the season's demands. "A wrestler has to be outstanding to win consistently at these lower weights, and Cuyler was," Lee said. "Holmes is good, but he may be discouraged by the prospects of losing. Hall did not wrestle last winter and still has to prove his determination to stick with it."