A host of veteran Harvard wrestlers takes to the IAB mats tonight as the Crimson wrestling team meets Springfield in the first contest of the season. The perenially strong Chiefs bested Harvard last year, 28-9.

Ever since graduation wiped out coach John Lee's fine 1972 squad, the Crimson has been building slowly but surely, year by year, toward another winning campaign. After going 6-9 in 1974-75, the grapplers improved to 7-8 last winter.

Four of the losses hinged on the outcome of a single match, however, and with eight of ten starters returning, Lee looks confidently toward a winning season this time around.

Albert

Senior Dave Albert will lead off for Harvard at 118 1bs., where he won four of 11 matches last year. He will be followed by two quality lightweights, co-captain Milt Yasunga (126 1bs.), who was 8-3-1 in 1975-76, and sterling sophomore Bill Mulvihill (134 1bs.), who also chalked up eight wins last year.

Graduation claimed last season's starter at 142 1bs., George Baker, but Bob Cusumano has come on strong to nail down the spot. He passed the sport up last winter, but was 4-4 as a freshman two seasons ago.

The 150 1b. berth was a major trouble spot for Harvard last year. Oft-injured Tom Bixby managed to get into only seven matches at the position, at one point having his collar bone broken by Yale's defending NCAA champion, Jim Benett. Four other grapplers took a shot at the job with little success.

A healthy Bixby won back the job in practice this fall, but he hurt his knee Saturday and may have to give way to Brian Adler (1-0 last season).

Solid junior Jim Corcoran (158 1bs.) returns after going 7-5-1 as a sophomore. He will be followed by blind sophomore Ed Bordley (167 1bs.), who overcame his handicap to win a starting spot and three matches as a freshman. He has worked hard and is vastly improved over last year, Lee said yesterday.

The last three weight classes were a Harvard strength last year. Captain Jim Strathmeyer (11-2-1 and 9-4-1 in the last two years at 177 1bs.), Sal D'agostino (6-3 at 190 1bs.) and current co-captain Kip Smith (10-4 in the unlimited spot) all made second team All-Ivy last winter.

Strathmeyer picked up his diploma in June, and D'agostino has dropped a weight class to take his place. The 190 1b. berth will be filled by Fred Smith, no relation to Kip, who struggled to an 0-4-1 record in 1975-76 as D'agostino's substitute. Like Bixby, he is hampered by a gimpy knee.

It won't really matter whether or not he can take the mat today, since Springfield trots out a sure winner at 190 1bs. in Jay Mulligan. Mulligan and Joe Blatnick, who will battle Kip Smith at the heavyweight spot, are the only significant veterans returning from the Chief squad that thumped Harvard last year.

But Springfield has a fine wrestling program, and this year's bunch of newcomers is sure to be tough, Lee said yesterday.