Preparing for Saturday's important showdown against defending Ivy champion Princeton, Harvard's varsity wrestling team nabbed its third straight victory by beating Rutgers, 19-15, last night in New Brunswick, N.J.

The win was the Crimson's eighth of its last nine matches and raised Harvard's season record to 12-4. With each victory, coach John Lee's squad sets a new Harvard all-time record for most wins in a season. The former record of seven was established in 1927 and again in 1963.

The team production of 19 points in last night's victory increased its output this year to 321, which snaps the present mark of 320 points scored in a season set last year.

Harvard's victory last night over the Scarlet Knights was a closer contest than last season's 23-15 win by the Crimson. Harvard lost the opening two bouts before John Henson raised his season mark to 10-4 by disposing of his 134 pound rival, 11-8. Captain Pat Coleman made his debut at 142 pounds last night and looked very good in decisioning Benito Johnson, 7-1. Coleman had a record of 11-3 before making the switch last night in preparation for Princeton.

Streaking to his third straight victory since rejoining the team after a semester off, Dean Sheppard drubbed Ben Smith, 8-2, at 150 pounds, Rich Starr, the winningest wrestler on the team with a 13-2 mark, pinned his 177 pound rival at 4:09. "Starr really came out shootin' to win," assistant coach Bob Fehrs said.

In the 190 pound match, Harvard's Dave Scanlon received a default when his opponent Benabba Ellis twisted his knee in the middle of the bout and was unable to continue. It was Scanlon's third straight victory.

Crimson regular Mark Faller, 167 pounds, was unable to wrestle against the Knights. Faller is still suffering from an injured shoulder and may be unable to participate Sunday.