Sometimes nothing brings a team closer together than adversity.

This year the wrestling team has had more than its share of adversity. The Lions haven't had a dual meet this season where they've been able to put the team on the mat that they expected to be able to when this season started.

"A few years back, Iowa State had six or seven dual meet losses and still won the national championship," Coach John Fritz said. "(Iowa State Coach) Jim Gibbons told me the adversity brought the team together."

This weekend the Lions could be without six starters, including 134-pounder Cary Kolat and 150-pounder Russ Hughes. Kolat injured his knee in practice, but Fritz said the injury is not as bad as originally thought.

That will give the Lions a substantial handicap against No. 4 North Carolina, which they will meet at 8 p.m. today in Hershey Park Arena in what originally promised to be a great match.

"It would be nice to wrestle in Rec Hall," heavyweight Kerry McCoy said. "But it's nice to expose the sports to different areas."

The Lions' other match this weekend is at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, when the Lions will meet traditional rival Lehigh in Bethlehem. And though Lehigh is not up to its usual status the Engineers could pose a problem for the depleted Lions.

"(The injuries) handicap us against every Division I team," Fritz said, "maybe any Division II team."

Penn State and the Tar Heels met just two weeks ago and the Lions came away with a 23-16 win in the third-place match at the National Dual Meet Championships. But the Lions can't rest on their laurels, as the dual meet was a lot closer than the final score might indicate.

Without Hughes and Kolat, who both had big wins in the first matchup, the Lions may be hardpressed to come away victorious.

This match will also be a letdown for the large crowd that is expected at the meet. Most everybody was awaiting the 134-pound showdown between Kolat and T.J. Jaworsky that now won't happen. The two stalwarts have developed quite possibly the best rivalry in collegiate wrestling since their first matchup in last season's NCAA final. Kolat has won the last three, including a 12-6 victory Monday in the All Star Classic.

But NCAA Champion Jaworsky wasn't concerned about their expected matchup tonight, aiming more for the NCAA championships in Chapel Hill, N.C. in March.

"I don't care if I wrestle him (today)," Jaworsky said. "Nationals is where I want to beat him."