The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-27

nastics, there has been q complete
position of the Academy athletes.
The five sports in which the Naval
Academy clearly stood at the top
are boxing, wrestling. gymnastics.
fencing. and rifle shooting. Leader
ship in none Of these has been ques-
toned, except that there has been
reference to Columbia's champion
ship" fencing team. This IL an er-
ror. as the Naval Academy won
five Of the six championships in the
finals Of the Intercollegiate Fencing
Association, as well as all Of its
dual matches. The Navy won the
competitions for teams with sabers
and for the first year foils. and the
individual championship with foils,
sabers and epee. Columbia won only
the team championship with fofls.
Favor Lehigh.
It is also felt here that the Naval
Academy made the best record in
rowing and lacrosse. A. rule,
sport writer's concede first honors
on the water. but the claim of the
Naval Academy lacrosse team Is
quite generally overlooked in favor
Of Lehigh. Lehigh won =. the cham
pionship Of the association, but did
not meet the Navy. by whom it has
generally been defeated by large
scores. and the record Of the Navy
twelve throughout the year was bet
ter. The latter team established q
record by having only five goals
scored against II during the season,
while scoring over 100.
As to the much discussed rowing
situation OF last season, complicated
by the defeat administered by Prince
ton to the Navy early In the spring,
the feeling here II that the Naval
Academy deserves the first place on
the comparative showing of the
whole season. Emphasis IL laid on
the fact that the Navy crew meet
opponents on long and short courses
and had much more Of a real test
than did the Princeton crew.
1t will be remembered that after
Princeton had won from the Navy II
entered its Varsity A crew in the Childs
Cup event and lost to Columbia. Co
lumbia was badly beaten by the Navy
In the Poughkeepsie event. so that the
three had an even standing on the
basis Of these contests.
The Navy does not agree that the
Princeton Varsity B crew, which de-
feated the Naval crew, can claim high
est honors. Coach Spaeth developed
two varsity crews. believing that his
chances OF winning all his races by
using them alternately was better than
with one crew. He entered his Varsity
B crew In the Childs Cup race, Prince
toms only classic race. and 1t was de-
feated. 1t was a thoroughly repre-
sentative crew, and. in the opinion
here, Princeton cannot claim other
wise.
Has Rowing Advantage.
The Naval Academy was beaten by
Princeton and does not wish to de-
tract from the credit Of that victory,
but Princeton was also beaten during
the season. and won no great events
like the Henley and the Poughkeepsie
regatta. On the other hand, Princeton,
1t Is felt, cannot have its own defeat
overlooked. 1t Is felt that the over
whelming defeat the Navy gave the
other crews on the Hudson at the
climax Of the season stamps 1t as the
leader for the year in rowing.
The Navy owes its leading position
In boxing and wrestling to the sports
manship Of Penn State. which was the
runner-up in both sports. Penn State
was not willing to rest on Its laurels
after winning at both. sports from
other leading teams, but felt that 1t
must try conclusions with the Navy
along both lines.
The boxing match was very close,
but the midshipmen won. and took
first place by 30 doing. Penn State
had won the championship OF the
intercollegiate Wrestling Association.
to which the Naval Academy has
been refused admission. but brought
its team to Annapolis, where it was
defeated quite deoisively by the
Naval Academy grapplers.
First place in gymnastics was won