This weekend the No. 1 wrestling team in the nation will be in Rec Hall to tangle with the Lions.

No, it's not Iowa, not Oklahoma State either. It's Minnesota. Minnesota? Yes, the Golden Gophers, of all teams, sit atop the wrestling world.

And why shouldn't they? After all, the they boast a 19-1 record with wins over Oklahoma State and Iowa.

At 5 p.m. on Sunday in Rec Hall, the Lions will look to knock the Gophers off their vaulted perch.

"This is great opportunity," Coach John Fritz said. "It's not everyday you get to wrestle the No. 1 team in the country, especially this late in the season."

Immediately following the Minnesota meet, about 6:30 p.m., the Lions will wrestle Pitt and at 7:30 p.m. they will meet West Virginia.

Because of time constraints due to the women's basketball game on Sunday, the Pitt and West Virginia matches will be wrestled on two mats, a format that Fritz says probably has never been done.

"Usually when teams do this they have a break in between," Fritz said. "I don't think anyone's ever done it this way."

The Minnesota meet, however, will draw the most attention with its intriguing individual matchups. At 126 pounds and at heavyweight, two of the nation's top three wrestlers will clash. Penn State's No. 2 Sanshiro Abe will wrestle No. 3 Tim Harris. Harris, who recently upset No. 1 Nick Purler of Oklahoma State, was beaten by Abe 8-4 in last year's Big Ten Tournament.

Heavyweight will see the battle of two of the nation's premier wrestlers. Kerry McCoy enters the weekend with a 23-0 record and a No. 1 ranking. Minnesota's All-American Billy Pierce, the highest returning place-winner from last season's national tournament, started the season No. 1 and is now No. 2.

"That's a match I've been looking forward to all year," McCoy said. "We're probably going to wrestle a few times this year, and this is the first time, so it will be a good one to get under my belt."

The Minnesota meet will also mark the return of Shawn Nelson, the All-American 118-pounder who hasn't wrestled since Jan. 22.

"We match up real good with Minnesota," 167-pounder Brian Matusic said, "better than Oklahoma State and Iowa did. With Nelson back, I think we'll take 'em."

Following the showdown with Minnesota, the Lions will have two more tough dual meets. West Virginia has a solid team, led by 177-pounder Dean Morrison, currently No. 2, and 150-pounder Keith Taylor. Pitt, while not as solid throughout its lineup, also has a couple of highly touted individuals, led by All-American 190-pounder Jeff Kloiber.