PITTSBURGH -- Cary Kolat received the biggest ovation a Penn State athlete probably has ever received in Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House.

The All-American wrestler was back in western Pennsylvania where he is still a legend to the throngs of well-wishers who greeted the Penn State sophomore.

"This is his stomping ground," Coach John Fritz said. "He's made a name for himself by being a great kid. He's a real credit to the sport."

Kolat was also happy to display his wrestling skills in front of the hometown fans.

"It was good to be home," Kolat said. "I haven't been home in so long -- it feels good to be in the area."

And Kolat did not disappoint the 3,274 in attendance at the National Wrestling Coaches Association All Star Classic last night. He scored a hard-fought 12-6 win over North Carolina's T.J. Jaworsky. That marks the third-straight time Kolat has beaten No. 2 Jaworsky this season after losing to him in last year's NCAA final.

Jaworsky jumped out to a lead with a single-leg takedown. After escaping to cut Jaworsky's lead to 2-1, Kolat went on the offensive and scored a takedown on a nifty counter as the clock expired in the first period.

"That hurt me mentally," Jaworsky said. "I pretty much had him beat in the first period."

The nail in Jaworsky's coffin came in the second period, when Kolat took the NCAA champion to his back and nearly pinned him. Jaworsky was able to fend off the cradle, but the move gave Kolat an insurmountable 9-4 lead.

Penn State's other representitive at the meet was heavyweight Kerry McCoy, who continued his dominance of the heavyweight class with a solid 5-2 win over All-American Justin Greenlee of Northern Iowa. The enormous Greenlee is probably the biggest heavyweight McCoy has faced this season.

"It's kind of a booster," McCoy said. "It definitely shows people that I'm one of the top wreslters in the country."

And for McCoy and Kolat, it puts them in a position where they are the early favorites for the natiopnal title.

"If they both keep good intensity and concentrate on getting better, then the end of the year is going to take care of itself," Fritz said.

Notes:

-- The only upset of the otherwise uneventful meet occured when Missouri's Shaon Fry beat Arizona State's NCAA champion Marcus Mollica 5-3.

-- The Lions split their weekend meets against a pair of Big Ten opponents. They lost to the Buckeyes of Ohio State, 22-12, but defeated Purdue, 30-13. Both matches took place in Columbus, Ohio.