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Cornell Miffs Matmen, 32-9

Injuries, Bad Start Send Crimson to Third Ivy Defeat

"We're hurting," was about the only comment Harvard wrestling Coach Jim Peckham could muster yesterday afternoon after Columbia rolled over the Crimson, 32-9, at Malkin Athletic Center, handing the Crimson its third straight Ivy League defeat.

The matmen (1-4 Ivies, 9-8 overall) are suffering from a bad case of injuries and a worse case of deja-vu, as the team continues to fall behind by more than 20 points before the middle weights can snap the cold streak.

Wins by 15-lb. John Freeman, 158-lb. Pete Holmes, and 177-lb. Steve Farrell were the only three the Crimson could record against Columbia (3-2 Ivies).

The loss leaves the Crimson in a position to battle with Yale for fourth place in the league (with winless Penn expected to finish in the cellar) next Saturday at the MAC.

Although 190-lb. Kelly Flynn did not come away with a victory, he provided some excitement in a match which pitted two highly-touted sophomores. Flynn, battling a former two-time New England High School Champion, clung to a 4-3 lead in the third period, before giving up a two point takedown with :03 remaining in the match.

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Farrell and Holmes continue to prove themselves the team's most consistent wrestlers. Holmes, still undefeated in Ivy League competition this year, held on for a 3-2 win over Columbia senior and Tri-Captain Chris Kane.

Farrell, now 11-1 on the year, battled one of the Ivy League's toughest competitors at 177 lbs., Joe Rojas, who earlier this year defeated the only grappler Farrell has lost to--a 177-lb. Princeton wrestler--this season. Farrell, wrestling aggressively, jumped out to a 5-2 advantage and lead all the way en route to a tough-fought 8-5 triumph.

Freeman, who has turned in surprisingly strong performances this year, held off a late surge by Columbia freshman Toby Johnson to record a 2-0 win.

Freeman's win came after four straight defeats for the Crimson, two of which were technical falls (15 point decisions) against 126-lb. Bernardo Feliciano and 134-lb. Jeff Pellatier. 142-lb. Chris Thorn suffered a pin and 118-lb. freshman Joel San Pedro dropped an 11-3 decision.

In other action, freshman David George, filling in for injured senior Jerry Greenberg, gave up a 10-2 decision and sophomore heavyweight Alex Konovalchik dropped a 6-3 decision to Columbia junior Jerry Peterson.

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