Penn State has a reputation of having strong lighter weights in its wrestling program, and this year is no exception.

Two of the team's best bets for All-America status lie in 118-pounder Jeff Prescott and 126-pounder Bob Truby.

Before Prescott there was Ken Chertow, a three-time All-American. Before Truby there was Jim Martin, a four-time All-American and national champion. Although Prescott and Truby may not have the technique to fill their shoes just yet, with their aggressiveness they are looking to match their predecessors' accomplishments.

"My goal is to win it all," Prescott said. "I really feel that I can do that. Everybody is really tight but it comes down to who really wants it. I want it more than anything. What you have to have is the desire to win."

Prescott, a redshirt sophomore, posts a record of 19-4-1 and recently rolled through the Eastern Wrestling League tournament for the tournament title. Amateur Wrestling News ranks him No. 7.

"Jeff has a great chance to be an All-American and he has a great chance to get a national title," Coach Rich Lorenzo said. "He's going to have to have a hot tournament but he's been wrestling very well and very aggressively."

Prescott seems to be peaking at the right moment. At the EWL tournament he recorded a 1:36 fall and followed it with technical fall in the semifinals in one of the more balanced weight classes.

Although Prescott only began wrestling on the squad in January due to academic problems and lost some technical finesse, he made up for it with an explosive aggressiveness that has impressed his coach and teammates.

"It's tough for anyone to stay at his pace for seven minutes. That really works to his advantage," Lorenzo said. "We love the fact that he goes out there and tries to thrash his opponent. He's on a mission to destroy and that's basically what you have to do in this sport. He has the eye of the tiger. he wants to be champion."

One thing Lorenzo warns Prescott about is an opponent who wrestles in the open.

"What he has to look for is an opponent with a low-leg attack," Lorenzo said. "Also an opponent that likes to stay out in the open and doesn't tie up gives Jeff the most problems. On the mat he's very well rounded and tough to beat. On his feet he's good too, it's just that one thing."

Six of last year's eight All-Americans will by vying for the 118-pound title, including two undefeated wrestlers. North Carolina's Doug Wyland, last year's runner-up, brings in a No. 1 ranking and a 33-0 record, and Zeke Jones of Arizona State boasts a No. 2 ranking and a 34-0 record. Prescott dropped a 7-6 decision to Wyland earlier in the year.

Other top competitors are Northern Iowa's Mark Schwab (27-1-1), Northwestern's Jack Griffin (35-2) and Oklahoma's Chris Bollin (23-5-2).

Truby, also a redshirt sophomore, is 16-7-1, with the seven losses coming from Top 10 opponents. Truby placed second at the EWL tournament, dropping a 5-2 decision to Bloomsburg's Dave Kennedy, No. 4 in the nation.

Truby's bid for the national title was temporarily put on hold when he injured his knee against Terry Brands of Iowa on Feb. 3. After knee surgery, he sat out until the week before the EWL tournament. Lorenzo said he has lost some of his pop since the injury, and the big factor for his success will be how his knee has come along.

"If Truby's health keeps improving, he's very much a contender for All-America status," Lorenzo said. "If he has recovered enough to be national champ, only time can tell. He has all the tools but the only thing is he's just a little bit hesitant due to the fact he's had knee surgery."

Truby's toughest competitors will probably be top-ranked Brands (28-2), who injured his knee, and defending champion Kendall Cross (28-5), who has defeated Truby 8-1 and 4-2. Nebraska's All-American Jason Kelber (31-3) will also be in the running.

"I'm excited," Truby said. "That's what the whole season's for -- this tournament. I'm kind of psyched about that."

"Even though he won't be seeded in the top eight, I still believe he's very capable of pulling the upsets," Lorenzo said.