With the Eastern Wrestling League Tournament only two weeks away, the third-ranked wrestling team entertains Bloomsburg in its final dual meet of the season at 7:30 tonight in Rec Hall.

The wrestling team will honor its nine graduating seniors, including tri-captains Jim Martin, Ken Chertow and Andy Voit, before this evening's match. Rob Meloy, Sean Finkbeiner, Joe Good, Mark Sidorick, Dave White and Wally Voight round out the senior class for the Lions.

"They're going to be a hard group to replace," Coach Rich Lorenzo said. "They were in the number one recruiting class in the United States in 1984 when they came here and we've had a lot of national recognition from their accomplishments and hard work."

The Lions will stay in State College over spring break to prepare for the EWL Tournament in Clarion, March 3-4. They are looking to win their eighth consecutive EWL title and qualify all 10 of their wrestlers for the national tournament.

"Its been a long season. Everybody's looking forward to the EWLs. This is what we've been working for," heavyweight Greg Haladay said. "I'm anxious and I think a lot of other people are anxious."

The top three finishers in each weight class automatically qualify for the NCAAs and additional wild card selections are made by the coaches. Eight of the nine Penn State qualifiers from last year will attempt to earn another trip to the nationals.

The Lions must first get past Bloomsburg, which Lorenzo said is a strong tournament team. Bloomsburg finished first in the Pennsylvania Conference.

"They know it's a big match (and) a tough match. We're not going to take anything for granted or look past this match," Lorenzo said. "We know that this is a very important step on the way to getting good seeds in the EWL."

Bloomsburg's line-up is a mystery because Lorenzo is not sure if the Bloomsburg wrestlers will drop weight to wrestle at their qualifying weights for nationals.

At 118 Yu Matsui, wrestling in place of Ken Chertow, meets John Supsic. Chertow went to Ohio State yesterday for a medical school interview and the coaches wanted him to take a break from making weight before the EWL tournament.

Defending national champion and three-time All-American Martin wrestles Dave Kennedy, who placed third in last year's EWL tournament, at 126.

Dernlan looks to avenge two losses last season to Tony Reed at 134.

"I'm a lot better than last year (and) I've got a lot more confidence in myself," Dernlan said. "I watched my tapes and I wasn't really going after him the way I'm going after people this year."

At 142 Meloy will wrestle senior Marty King, who won the Pennsylvania Conference title at 150. Mike Bevilacqua will have his hands full with 150-pound All-American Dave Morgan, who placed third in last year's NCAAs. The 158-pound match will feature Finkbeiner against Roger Dunn followed by Suter and Len Cory at 167.

Matt White is in for a rematch against Scott Brown at 177. Brown beat White earlier in the season at the East Stroudsburg Open. Voit wrestles redshirt sophomore Paul Keysaw at 190.

Haladay expects to round out the competition against Tom Sacoman.