While most wrestlers have dreams of winning an NCAA championship or an Olympic gold medal, Rob Piper has a different dream.

"I think the dream of most actors is to win an Oscar," said the actor/wrestler who emerged from obscurity to help the Lions to the third-place finish at the National Duals last weekend.

Piper, a walk-on wrestler, filled in for injured 190-pounder Mike Kraft and won two key matches to help the Lions seal victories over Nebraska and North Carolina.

Piper, however, is not your average wrestler.

"I don't like fitting into the typical mold," Piper said. "I don't like clichs."

Piper's life is anything but clich. He has worked the last three seasons to hone his wrestling skills and has also found time to star in a number of plays, not to mention, attend Officer Training School.

"They said he was one of the best they've ever had," Coach John Fritz said. "He's cut out like a Marine --yes sir, no sir -- you tell him what to do and he does it."

After Piper graduates in May he plans on entering the Marine Corps for a short stint as second lieutenant.

While similarities can be easily drawn between wrestling and the Marines, it's acting that seems a strange piece in the trifecta. Piper, though, has been able to draw parallels and use his experiences in each to help him.

"Being able to wrestle in front of a crowd is like being in a play," Piper said. "You can't be a Marine or a wrestler without discipline. In acting you need discipline to be able to perform."

That discipline has become one of Piper's trademarks.

He came to Penn State overwieght and out of shape, but his work ethic caught the eyes of the wrestling coaches and he was allowed to remain on the team.

"He has a great attitude," Fritz said. "It shows what hard work and discipline can do."

Piper never placed in a high school state touranment in his native Virginia but that didn't stop him from persuing his goal of wrestling in college. In just one weekend, Piper went from a virtual unknown wrestler to what some might call one of the heros of Penn State performance last weekend.

"I don't consider myself a hero," Piper said. "I just try to do what needs to be done. I consider (Kerry) McCoy, (Cary) Kolat, (Sanshiro) Abe and the other lightweights the heros. I just try to do what they're doing."

While it may be a while before Piper plays a hero on the big screen, for one weekend in January Piper was a hero in real life.

"I think my weekend was very fulfilling," Piper said. "I'm glad for the team and I'm glad to have been a part of it."

Look out Hollywood.