Rivalries have always been a part of sports. Whether it be the Cowboys and Redskins, Lakers and Celtics or the Red Sox and Yankees, the idea of meeting one's rival has always brought out the best in athletes.

Such is the case with Penn State wrestler Cary Kolat, who is developing one of the best rivalries in collegiate wrestling with North Carolina's T.J. Jaworsky.

Developed might be the better word, as Kolat and Jaworsky have already met four times in less than a year with their fifth meeting --and third in two weeks -- tabbed for tomorrow night.

"Those kind of things are good, they're good for the sport," Penn State Coach John Fritz said.

Kolat holds a 3-1 advantage, including a 12-6 win on Monday, but Jaworsky won the match that counted most, a 6-4 win in last season's NCAA final.

That loss seems to have motivated Kolat, who seems to take the frustration of losing in the finals out on Jaworsky every time the two step on a mat.

"He could drop out of the rankings totally, but I'll never forget about him," Kolat said. "Everytime I get the chance to wrestle him, I'll go for it."

Wrestlers and coaches have different opinions on whether or not it is an advantage to have wrestled someone so many times before nationals. But Kolat knows where he stands on the matter.

"My theory is that I'd wrestle a guy a hundred times before the national final," Kolat said. "I feel like I get the better experience, more than he does."

Jaworsky also feels that he and Kolat are developing a rivalry, but believes it may be more circumstance than a dislike between the two individuals.

"Any time you get the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked guys in the country who have wrestled as many times as we have, your going to get a little rivalry," Jaworsky said.

Jaworsky has remained philosophical about his struggles with Kolat this season. He spoke with one of his former teammates at Oklahoma State, where he transferred from two years ago, who had a rival of his own that he couldn't seem to beat.

"I was talking to Alan Fried, one of my former teammates, about how he used to wrestle (Tom) Brands all the time, and about how it used to play on him mentally," Jaworsky said. "I don't care if I lose again to (Kolat) on Friday. Nationals is where I want to beat him."

Come national time, Kolat will find himself in a much more hostile enviornment than he encountered on Monday or will encounter tomorrow in Hershey. He's going to have to travel to Jaworsky's home in Chapel Hill, N.C., where the NCAA Championships are scheduled to be held.

"He's going to have to come to my home town and wrestle in front of my crowd," Jaworsky said. "The pressure's going to be on him, and I want to see how wrestles with the pressure."

But nothing would make Kolat happier than to beat Jaworsky at nationals.

"Yea," Kolat said with a smile. "That would be nice."