Last year, the Harvard men's swimming team won its eighth consecutive Eastern Seaboard championship, equalling the record set by the great Yale teams from 1961-'68.

That leaves, say, an unprecedented ninth Eastern title, an Ivy Championship, and maybe a top-10 performance showing at the NCAA championships for this year.

All of which, you'd have to admit, wouldn't be a bad showing.

"[Championship number] nine will definitely be harder than 10," said Harvard Coach Joe Bernal. "This one is the toughest, simply because of all the young swimmers on the team."

Besides its ninth Eastern crown, the Crimson also has its sights set on winning back the Ivy League title from Princeton. After claiming at least a piece of first place from 1978-'84, Harvard has seen the Tigers take the top spot for the last two years, both times by virtue of last-second dual-meet victories over Harvard.

Last year, both the Crimson and the Tigers came into the meet at Blodgett Pool undefeated, but Princeton came from behind to earn a 59-54 decision, thanks to a victory in the final race by only .04 seconds.

The Princeton meet this season will be held in New Jersey on February 7, and Bernal knows it will be a good one: "Princeton will be tough, and we will be facing them in their pit with a jam-packed crowd," he said. "If [the Tigers] win, their season is made."

Star 'Shmen

Some of the swimmers who could make a difference in that big Princeton meet are members of the Class of '90, which is full of potential. "This freshmen class is the most well-balanced, well-rounded group of athletes that I have seen here at Harvard," Bernal said.

Twelve freshman are on the squad, and here are some of the shining stars:

. Stu Hirch: one of two freshmen breaststrokers, this New York native has a great deal of natural talent.

. George Imredy: a butterflier from Illinois who should do well in the stretch run.

. Ken Johnson: this distance man hailing from Seattle could be the best catch of the crop. He is desperately needed because of the graduation of last year's Co-Captain Tim Ford.

. Michael Lin: an individual medley specialist from lowa, who could be the surprise of the class.

. Jim Lutz: the other breaststroker, a New Jersey native, who should help the Crimson control that event throughout the season.