PHOTO: Manoj Kalava
In a season of injuries and academic ineligibility, wrestler Clint Musser has been a rock of consistency this season for coach Troy Sunderland.

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
Collegian Staff Writer

In a season full of unrest for the Penn State wrestling team, there has been one constant.

First-year Nittany Lion coach Troy Sunderland has faced numerous injuries, players leaving the team and academic ineligibility -- enough problems to make his brown hair turn gray. But one individual has allowed him to maintain at least some of his sanity -- his 157-pound wrestler, Clint Musser.

Day in and day out in the wrestling room, Musser spars tenaciously with other members of the team, fine-tuning his skills.

He is relentless and aggressive, even in practice. It is all part of Musser's regimen, which he hopes will land him national champion accolades when the season ends in March with the NCAA Tournament in The Bryce Jordan Center.

Perhaps the one moment that showed Musser's intense attitude best took place in a practice earlier this season.

With a gauze wrapped around his head, Musser grappled with fellow All-American Jamarr Billman. A cut he had obtained during the Penn State Open began to emit blood -- drops that dripped onto Billman's shoulder.

Eventually, Musser noticed the abrasion was bleeding. But he did not hesitate for one moment to wipe his brow.

Instead, he ripped off his gauze and returned to battling Billman.

Such attitude signifies Musser -- he is relentless, an animal on the mat.

For Musser, obviously a few drips of blood are a small price to pay in exchange for his preparation for a national championship bid.

"He's a battler on the mat," coaching assistant Dave Hart said. "That's the kind of intensity we want everyone to have."

Usually, Musser is one of the last wrestlers on the team to leave the wrestling room. And when he finally does depart, he is saturated with sweat -- almost giving off the appearance as if he had stepped outside during a monsoon.

Certainly, every coach would like to have a wrestler such as Musser on the mat. Sunderland is one of them.

"He has been here for five years and he has been intense since day one," Sunderland said of Musser. "I think he has been pretty focused."

He is.

Musser knows this is his last chance to be a national champion. It is his goal, his dream and his aspiration.

Said Musser: "It's the only thing I am driving for."

Last year, the Akron, Ohio native finished fifth at NCAAs while earning All-American distinction. He also boasted a 33-5 record overall, including an impressive 18-1 mark in dual meets.

But that is history.

With the passing of yet another season, he has started from scratch with a clean slate and a new opportunity to be No. 1.

This season, he has garnered much of the same success he enjoyed last season. Even during the semester hiatus, he finished fourth among stellar competition at the Midland Tournament.

"There's no doubt about it," Musser said. "That was my plan. There's no other tournament like that other than the NCAA Tournament."

Also, he finished second at the Penn State Open after losing to Central Michigan's Casey Cunningham, then-No. 2 wrestler in the nation at 157 pounds. Musser was also the runner-up at Mat-Town, where he suffered a loss by a close decision, 3-2, at the hands of No. 7-ranked Chris Ayres of Lehigh.

Once again, he proved his competitiveness, avenging his loss to then-No. 3 Ayres with a 5-3 victory during Penn State's dual meet victory over Lehigh.

After all, the second battle was in a dual meet, where Musser is not only representing himself, but his team as well. Thus far, he has been flawless, posting victories in each of the eight dual meets in which he has started.

But what makes Musser such a dominant wrestler?

Hart offers this explanation:

"He's always thinking offense. He is always in the perfect position to get good shots. He never waits around. He starts off right, right off the bat."

Saturday, at the 1999 NWCA/Cliff Keen National Team Duals in Iowa City, Iowa, he posted a 3-0 record, which went for naught as the Lions went 1-2 on the day.

Overall, he currently holds the No. 3 ranking in the nation and has a 19-2 record on the season, including four technical fall wins.

With such accolades, he earned a trip to 1999 NWCA All-Star Dual, which will be held at Oklahoma State's Gallagher-Iba Arena Feb. 1.

Considering the opponents he has gone up against and the training he has undergone thus far, Musser is confident in his own abilities to be No. 1.

"I feel like I am on pace," he said. "I have some tough competition, it's going to be a push, but I feel great.

"I feel like I am right on stride. I keep on improving. I definitely feel like I am in great shape for a national championship. I've got my sights set on it."

But Musser not only brings wins and attitude to the team, as a fifth-year senior full of experience, he also brings leadership, which is often an intangible.

"Clint is a real good motivator," heavyweight Matt Calabretta said. "He's one of the hardest workers on the team. He's one of the most talented wrestlers here.

"He's a good leader. No one wants to lose, but he's got more of a spark."

That spark has carried over to teammate Glenn Pritzlaff. The two senior All-Americans train rigorously in practice in their own respective bids for the title.

Their efforts have formed a duality -- a relationship made of mutual respect.

"I motivate Clint, and he motivates me," Pritzlaff said. "We wrestle each other, and we are able to go really hard against one another. We are both striving to be national champions this year."

Musser takes the leadership in stride, however. While he realizes the importance of being a good teammate and friend, he also realizes there comes a time when he has to lay down the law.

He knows his role.

It is a role he is comfortable with, a role he relishes.

"I could be the kind of person that other people could talk with," Musser said, "but they have to have respect for me."

The kind he has earned from his opponents.