141-pound title up for grabs
Editor's note:This is the third in a 10-part series previewing the 10 weight classes for the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships beginning Thursday in The Bryce Jordan Center. This story previews the 141-pound class.

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
Collegian Staff Writer

Someone will lose.

That is the only guarantee within the 141-pound weight class during the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships. The rest is uncertain.

Two undefeated wrestlers go into the tournament unscathed after beating the best of the best for the entire season. But when the NCAA Tournament ends Sunday, only one man will stand atop the podium in The Bryce Jordan Center.

Only time will tell if Clarion's Mark Angle, No. 1 wrestler in the nation at 141 pounds, can keep his flawless 35-0 mark intact. But he faces at least one major hurdle -- No. 2 Chris Marshall, who maintains a 25-0 record for Central Michigan.

Angle's assistant coach, Tony Purler, gives Angle the advantage.

"He is a very, very talented individual," Purler said. "I have never seen anyone that talented all around. He works harder than anyone I have ever seen."

But Chippewas coach Tom Borrelli believes Marshall is capable of pulling off an upset.

"(Marshall) has an excellent chance," Borrelli said. "I think if you are seeded that high, then you should have an excellent chance."

He is not the only one.

Ranked behind Marshall is Doug Schwab from Iowa. Schwab, an All-American sophomore for the Hawkeyes, posted a 33-4 record this season and is coming off a first-place finish at the Big Ten Championships.

Another strong candidate for the national championship is Oklahoma's Michael Lightner, who finished fifth at the NCAA Tournament held last year at Cleveland State. This year Lightner has fared well also, posting an impressive 38-2 record as a sophomore.

"Michael has an outstanding opportunity to win the national championship," Sooners coach Jack Spates said. "He is working extremely hard and he is lightening quick. It is a very tough weight class, but I think Michael is capable of beating anybody."

Rounding out the top five is Michigan's Damion Logan. He suffered a defeat at the hands of Schwab in the finals of the Big Ten Championships, dropping his record to 28-6. Logan did not compete in last year's tournament because he suffered a season-ending injury at Big Tens last year.

Wolverines coach Dale Bahr puts faith in his 141 pounder.

"Logan is a top-five wrestler," said Bahr, who is in his last year of duty as coach of the Wolverines. "There's some good kids in there, but he should do pretty well."

141 pounds is the only weight class in which Penn State will not send a representative to the Jordan Center. True freshman Mark Bost failed to qualify after two loses in the opening rounds at Big Tens. He finished his season 0-10.

"It's a tough weight," Nittany Lions coach Troy Sunderland said. "There are a lot of kids that have beaten each other and are capable of beating the top guys."

Possible upsets could be obtained by Illinois' Carl Perry or Harvard's Dustin DeNunzio.

"My chances are really good, I am feeling pretty confident," DeNunzio said. "It's tough -- it's just going to be a brawl. Angle's the favorite, but it doesn't mean he is unstoppable."