When it travels to Lock Haven and Lehigh this weekend, the wrestling team (12-7) will be without the services of 142-pounder Peter Horst, who quit the team Wednesday, Coach Rich Lorenzo said.

The redshirt sophomore, who posted a 23-8-2 record this season, will be sorely missed against the Eagles (10-9, 1-4 in the Eastern Wrestling League) at 7:30 tonight and against the Engineers (3-8-1) at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Horst, a 1987 state champion, is the second full-scholarship wrestler to quit the team this season. Former tri-captain Jeff Dernlan, who also wrestled at 142, quit the team Dec. 5. With Mike Bevilacqua (25-5-3) benched because of a possible torn ligament, Lorenzo must now fill the starting role with walk-on Chad Budin (12-11).

Like Dernlan, Horst quit the team because he no longer enjoyed wrestling, Lorenzo said.

"He came to the realization that he wasn't into it, he didn't want to be doing this," Lorenzo said. "That's one of the reasons he's been very inconsistent. He hasn't had the burning desire, the drive, to become a national champion."

Lorenzo added that this was not a spur of the moment decision for Horst, although it came to a peak when Horst decided to drop to 134.

"I think dedicating himself to making that weight really brought it to a head," Lorenzo said. "If you're getting sore and tired you really question why you're doing it. It makes you face it, and it makes you face it twice as often because you're working out twice as much."

The reaction of his teammates has been one of surprise, although generally positive.

"When he quit it was surprising," said 126-pounder Jeff Prescott, a friend of Horst. "I look at it as I would rather see Pete be happy than wrestle and not be happy. It's the best thing, for his sake and the team's sake."

"There's (no resentment) at all," 190-pounder Jeff Ellis said. "He has to do what he has to do."

With Bob Truby (14-6-1) out with a knee injury, the middleweights are becoming an endangered species. Lorenzo will also fill the 134 position with a walk-on, Tom Barley (8-7).

The walk-ons and the rest of the Lions will put their hands into a wasp's nest tonight when they enter Lock Haven's Thomas Field House. Eagle fans love wrestling. Eagle fans hate Penn State. Therefore, Eagle fans normally do not follow proper fan etiquette.

Last time Penn State wrestled Lock Haven at home, a bomb threat cleared the arena halfway through the match. After a search of the area turned up nothing, fans were allowed to enter the building for the completion of the match -- at their own risk. It remained packed.

The match came down to the heavyweight bout, with the Lions winning, 21-18. No bomb went off, but the rivalry grew. Last year a rowdy bunch of Eagle fans road-tripped to Rec Hall, only to see their wrestlers nipped, 20-19.

"It's pretty intense wrestling there," Prescott said. "It's great because everyone is against us. They're all booing and they don't want us there. But the funny thing is we beat them."

Lock Haven boasts No. 4 Mike Lingenfelter (32-4-1), who will wrestle Prescott. Other notables include Jeff Karam (25-4-1), who will wrestle Mark Verratti (13-13) at 158; and Kenny Walker (24-11-1), who will wrestle No. 5 Greg Haladay (24-3-1) at heavyweight.

"Their wrestling is like football at Penn State," Lorenzo said. "It's their No. 1 sport. Their fans are pretty intense, pretty hostile, a little blood-thirsty."

Lehigh is rebuilding this year, although they have top-ranked Matt Ruppel (25-0-1) at 190 and two-time All-American John Epperly (17-5), who will drop from 134 and make his debut at 126.