Hess Yntema, Harvard's junior All-American, has decided to quit the swimming team. "I'm pretty much done with swimming," Yntema said yesterday. "I've just decided to quit for personal reasons."

Yntema, regarded by many as the best all around swimmer in Harvard's history, was instrumental in leading the Crimson to its first undisputed Ivy swimming title last year. He maintained a mastery over his Ivy opponents in the butterfly and individual medley throughout the season and took three individual crowns in the Eastern Seaboard Championships in March.

"We've had others quit before," coach Ray Essick said yesterday. "It isn't any more appropriate for me to comment now than on other swimmers who leave with different abilities."

'Philosophically'

"I take it philosophically," Essick said, "and the team does too. After all, it was just one swimmer we lost."

"Obviously the opportunities are very good to swim around here," Yntema said. "I just chose not to."