Evening star., 1932-06-20
NAVY AMONG THOSE
LEFT 'OUT IN COLD"
California, Cornell, Syracuse,
Washington, Pennsylvania
Rated Contenders.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

NOUGHkEEPS N. T., June
- 20.-Never were there pros
/ poets of competition so
keen, of rivalry so exacting,
among SO many eight-oared crews
as exist today on the four-mile
Hudson River course, off this
placid little upstate city, where
stalwart combinations represent
ing eight universities await the
word that will bring them to the
starting line off Crum Elbow.
Usually one or two crews stand out
as logical favorites, their status IN the
public mind having been erected on the
basis of their showing in preliminary
regattas as well as their development
In the final weeks of preparation for
the great Hudson River classic.
Today five crews at least offer claims
not to be denied by those who. through
partisan enthusiasm or for reasons not
so worthy, are indulging in speculations
regarding the outcome of the varsity
event.
NAMED in alphabetical order the
~ crews most feared by the coaches
who are always closer to an ad-
vance rowing situation than any one
else, are California, Cornell, Pennsyl-
vania, Syracuse and Washington.
All of these have turned in extremely
fast time trials, which may mean little
or nothing when the time comes to get
into the race and slog and endure and
jockey against other high class rivals
and all Of them have impressed compe-
tent observers by their excellent water
manship and their Synchronized har-
mony in action.
Of the crews less highly regarded,
Columbia, Navy and Massachusetts,
Tech, any one of them may storm to
the fore and demonstrate-aS underdog
crews at Poughkeepsie so often have
demonstrated-the futility of basing
judgment upon form shown in advance.
The history of rowing at POughkeepsie
IS filled with such instances and there
is nothing the commentator can do
about it except to note the fact and
thus use it as shelter from jibes in
case the usually unusual occurs.
DEGRADING the facts as they have
N been brought here on the Hudson,
that if he were the coach of any crew
other than Washington, he would fear
the HuSkies more than any other eight
on the river.
In view Of the unvarying excellence !
of so many Of the crews that will 60
down the Hudson this evening, it is |
not too easy to give reasons for this |
impression, except to say that it is an |
impression based upon the tremendous
power the crew reveals. The fact is
that the oarsmen assembled by Coach |
Ulbrickson are of a physical type quail |
fed to handle the traditional Washing |
ton stroke which has brought so many |
laurelS to the rowing system at Seattle. |
Yet, saying this, California keeps |
crowding into the mind. Given smooth |
conditions. no head wind. it is entirely
conceivable that the Bears might go
blazing down the course not only in
the van, but driving their brazen prov |
to new course record. But suppose
there are head winds? Suppose there |
IS bobble of a sea on? Can the Cali !
fcrnians, powerful though they may be, |
maintain at high clip stroke which |
imposes so great strain upon their |
arms? If they can the men of Berkeley |
are likely to turn in a glorious victory. |
TORNELL, beautifully together, ask
~ ing nothing in the way of Drawn
and stamina from any crew, what
about her? A shrug is the answer. Both
the Bears and the Huskies will have to
row their best to head her-or at least.
so it seems.
And if the going is good Syracuse will ,
be in there beyond question. A great !
many Of the Wiseacres think the Orange |
has it in her to win this race. 1t would |
not be at all surprising if she did. 1t !
would be more of a surprise If Penn |
should come through. but if she did it |
would not be the first time a compare |
lively less braWny but beautifully |
trained and geared eight drove to the |
fore on this course.
All in all one may say only one thing
with certainty. and that is that a great |
free-for-all is IN prospect, and that If
conditions are good-as they promise to |
be-the crew that wins will in all prob |
ability have broken a record.