January reading period, typically a time when exercise, sleep and sanity are all sacrificed in a frantic effort to make up for lost time, has taken its toll on Harvard's swimming team.

True, the aquamen rolled to victory Friday evening against an inexperienced and overmatched Dutch national team, but their 44-41 victory at Blodgett Pool was marred by lackluster performances and less than enthusiastic efforts from the Crimson's finest.

Fortunately, the Dutch team was not as strong as some had suggested, and not all the Crimson swimmers allowed themselves to succumb to pre-exam doldrums and the bitterness surrounding the late cancellation of the proposed Jamaica Christmas trip.

Campari Knoepffler, Harvard's Nicaraguan national team member, exhibited the benefits of hard Christmas training in coming from behind to edge two Dutchmen in the 200 butterfly, finishing with a lifetime best 1:56.62.

Bobby Hackett and Tim Maximoff, who spent a week of vacation training with Russian national team members and the Mission Viejo Nadadores in cold and rainy southern California, turned in their usual stellar performances.

Hackett cruised to victories in the 1000 and 500 freestyles (9:11.75 and 4:31.93), while Maximoff garnered two seconds--behind Dutch team captain Fred Eefting in the 200 IM and trailing Hackett in the 500.

The 200 breaststroke provided the meet's closest race. Pat Jakobsen looked smoother than he has all season and nipped the Netherlands' Ronald Hond by two-hundreths of a second.

Harvard won the meet because of its superior talent. Considering the time of year, they can be excused for their less than top-notch performance. A new seriousness must grip the program, however, if the swimmers are to be ready for Princeton.

HARVARD 44 NETHERLANDS 41

400-yd. Medley Relay--1. Harvard (Ron Raikula, Tom Royal, Jack Gauthier, Chris Hancock) 3:36.50; 1000-yd. freestyle--1. Bobby Hackett (H) 9:11.75, 2. E. Izermak (N) 9:31.60, 3. V.J. Winkel (N) 9:33.13; 200-yd. freestyle--1. Jack Gauthier (H) 1:43.04, 2. Keszere (N) 1:45.71, 3. Sclaap (N) 1:47.45; 200-Individual Medley--1. Fred Eefting (N) 1:58.50, 2. Tim Maximoff (H) 1:58.85, 3. Ron Raikula (H) 1:59.44; 200-yd. butterfly--1. Campari Knoepffler (H) 1:56.62, 2. F. Vollernough (N) 1:56.73, 3. P. Duinmayer (N) 1:57.57; 100-yd. freestyle--1. Shcaup (N) 48.77, 2. V. Kesteren (N) 1:58.80, 2. Geoff Seelen (H) 1:59.93, 3. Lee Menichella (H) 2:00.53; 500-yd. freestyle--1. Bobby Hackett (H) 4:31.93, 2. Tim Maximoff (H) 4:35.94, 3. Elzerman (N) 4:40.87; 200-yd. breaststroke--1. Pat Jakobsen (H) 2:16.54, 2. Hond (N) 2:16.56; 400-yd. Freestyle Relay 1. Holland (F. Vollerbergh, Kesteren, R. Schaap, H. Elzerman) 3:13.21.