The men's swimming and diving (2-0, 2-0 Ivy) team began its season with the domination expected from a team with four consecutive Eastern titles. Harvard trampled Army and Columbia in a tri-meet at West Point in an evening meet on Friday, winning 177-66 and 152-91, respectively.

The Lions surprised the Crimson in the first event, winning the 400-yard medley relay. From that point on, Harvard took control of the meet, winning eight of the remaining 12 events, taking first and second or first through third in several.

Senior Tim Martin and sophomore Michael Sabala, the only two Crimson swimmers out of 10 in the event, won the top two spots in the 1000 freestyle. Martin blazed through the water by turning in one of the fastest times in the nation this year.

"People were swimming really well considering this is our first meet of the season," Martin said. "We wanted to make a statement with our swims because everyone in the conference and nation will see the results. We will not be taken lightly this year and we wanted to make sure everyone knows that."

In the next event, the 200-yard freestyle, the talent of the new crop of 12 freshmen became apparent. Ryan Parmenter and Rick Dewey finished first and second, with sophomore Mat Wrenshall chiming in third.

"The freshmen overall swam fast, most turning in best in-season times," Parmenter said. "We were all pretty nervous, but stepped up to the challenge of swimming at the collegiate level."

In addition to these two first-year performances, an aggressive all-freshman medley relay finished third, only two seconds behind Harvard's A relay.

Dan Shevchick, another freshman, trailed Lion ace Arpad Sebe for most of the 200 individual medley, until the last 50 yards, when Shevchick motored past Sebe for the win.