Wrestlers hope for redemption in rematch against Minnesota

By J.P. GRAMLICH
Collegian Sports Writer

Almost exactly a year ago -- Feb. 9, 1997 -- a No. 3-ranked Minnesota team took on a top-five Penn State squad. Minnesota barely won.

Yeah, right.

The Golden Gophers blasted the No. 4 Nittany Lions 28-7 in a showdown-turned-rout at Minnesota's Sports Pavilion in one of three wins over Penn State last season alone.

Penn State coach John Fritz, whose team dropped a spot in the latest NWCA rankings following an 18-13 loss at West Virginia a week ago, is hoping the new location makes all the difference.

"It's nice that it's here on campus," said Fritz, whose Lions also host Clarion Sunday at Rec Hall. "We just hope we have a large number of people for a competitive advantage."

A big crowd would be good. But the return of Penn State star Jason Betz would be even better.

Betz, the missing link in the Lions' tireless quest for health, could wrestle at 126 after a month-long battle with weight problems and the flu. But he needs clearance from physicians first, which won't happen until weigh-ins this afternoon.

If Betz, currently ranked No. 7, makes weight before the 7:30 start it would be the first time this season the Lions take the mat with a completely healthy lineup.

And Betz really wants that to happen.

"It would be great to wrestle," said Betz, whose backup is senior Arturo Cabanas. "It's only the second time we get to wrestle in The Bryce Jordan Center. It's going to be a big crowd cheering us on and it's a high-profile match, so that just puts it up on another level. It gets everybody pumped up and excited."

While Minnesota is favored in the meet -- nine of the Gophers' 10 starters are ranked in the top 10 of their weight classes -- Penn State isn't hearing funeral music quite yet.

Eight of the Lions' 10 starters are ranked, including six in the top 10. Penn State is led by junior 150-pounder Clint Musser, ranked third, and senior 158-pounder John Lange, ranked sixth.

Freshman Jamarr Billman (No. 7 at 142), sophomore Jeremy Hunter (No. 8 at 118) and redshirt junior Glenn Pritzlaff (No. 8 at 167) should make an impact as well, in addition to the rest of the focused Lions. But how much of an impact?

Fifth-year senior and 177-pounder Rob Neidlinger said Penn State has the potential to surprise some people.

"There's definitely added incentive to beat (Minnesota) because they beat us pretty bad three times last year," Neidlinger, ranked No. 13 at his weight, said. "I think we have a solid lineup this year. We've got a lot of guys who are training hard and a lot of guys who are ranked high."