Quite a turnaround for 149-pound Nittany Lions wrestler Jean Celestin.

A few months ago, Celestin grappled and lost 25-10 to No. 1 Hawkeye T.J. Williams, filling in for All-American Jamarr Billman, out because of an academic inquiry into his transcript and personal conflicts. But Celestin -- who came to Happy Valley after spending last year at Penn State Altoona thanks to a housing snafu -- was bounced from the starting slot after he was injured and lost to Mill Hall native Biff Walizer 7-5 in a wrestle-off.

A few weeks later, Celestin found himself on the mat once more -- this time as a referee in an intramural wrestling tournament. And now he is assisting for the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, which get underway at 11 a.m. today in The Bryce Jordan Center, because "that's the only way I can get in." After all, tickets for this event have been going faster than Vanilla Ice went out of style.

While it is difficult for Celestin to sit back and watch rather than contribute toward the Lions' chances of winning3 the national championship, he is happy he was given the opportunity to wrestle in the first place.

But one thing he was not happy with was his performance on the mat.

That is partially why Celestin continues to workout with his teammates who are in the hunt for the title. Not only does he want to assist his colleagues in their goals, he also has a few goals of his own -- namely to improve for next year.

"I am definitely looking forward to next year at whatever weight class I wrestle," he said.

True freshman Mark Bost also must look toward next year. At the season's midpoint with only one match under his belt, he was hurled from the bleachers behind the Penn State bench to the Rec Hall mat after Walizer moved up to 149.

Bost struggled throughout the duration of his stay in the starting lineup. He was the only Lion representative at the Big Ten Championships not to qualify for the NCAA Championships, and finished the season with an 0-10 record.

"If it wouldn't be for the NCAAs hosted here this year, I would have already forgotten it," Bost said. "I am looking forward to the next year, but I am starting to reflect.

"I'm being a support system for all of the guys and helping them get ready for thew week -- my time is not of the essence now that I am not wrestling in NCAAs."

Members of the team who are not wrestling in the wrestling championships have been instrumental to the team, 197 pounder Brett Calabretta said.

Especially his twin brother, Matt, a one-time starter in the heavyweight slot. Matt, in his last year wrestling, has been by Brett's side now, working with him, and giving him support.

"He is disappointed that he wasn't able to get into the lineup at the end of the year, but he has been supporting me," Brett said. "It's been good to have him here."