Coming off an impressive win against Iowa State Saturday night, the second-ranked wrestling team, minus one of the nation's top wrestlers, plays host to Eastern Wrestling League foe Clarion at 7:30 tonight in Rec Hall.

Defending national champion and three-time All-American Jim Martin will sit out this dual meet so that he does not exceed the maximum number of dates allowed under NCAA rules. That maximum number is 21.

Yu Matsui will wrestle for Martin at 118 and Ken Chertow will move up a weight to compete at 126. Jeff DernIan remains at 134, however, and Peter Horst will fill in for Rob Meloy at 142.

Rounding out the Nittany Lions' lineup are Mike Bevilaqua (150), Sean Finkbeiner (158), Jason Suter (167), Matt White (177), Voit (190) and Greg Haladay at heavyweight.

Lorenzo said Clarion is experienced, but is in the process of rebuilding. He said Clarion has also redshirted some of its top recruits, including heavyweight Kurt Angle, who Lorenzo said is a potential All-American and national champion.

"They're a fun team to wrestle because they'll come out and come after you," Lorenzo said. "They are good mat wrestlers as well as pretty decent on their feet and they don't mind getting down there and rolling around with you.

"They get kids that are into the sport, tough kids," he added. "They are gentlemen off the mat, but on the mat they're all business. Clarion's always been well-respected."

Dernlan said the Clarion match will not be an easy one judging from the fairly close match between the two teams at the Penn State Duals earlier this season.

"Everybody gets psyched to wrestle Penn State from the EWL because we've won it the past few years," he explained. "They'll come out after us."

Lorenzo said Clarion's 118-pounder, Corey Jones, has come on strong since the Lions wrestled the Golden Eagles in the in early December. He predicts a good match between Matsui and Jones.

Redshirt freshman Horst will be challenged tonight by one of Clarion's toughest wrestlers, Mike Cole. Cole placed third in the 1987 NCAA tournament, but took a medical redshirt last season after breaking his elbow. Cole wrestled defending national champion Pat Santoro in the All-Star meet in Philadelphia last night." (Cole is) so dangerous. He can pin you at any time during the match," Lorenzo explained. "You have to have seven minutes of total awareness and concentration, otherwise he could end the match at any time."