After getting their first Big Ten win Friday night against Northwestern, the Penn State wrestling team got a couple of inspired performances against Iowa yesterday, but still couldn't overtake the wrestling juggernaut.

The 33-10 loss dropped the Nittany Lions to 7-9 on the season and 1-3 in the Big Ten.

After losing the first five matches to the Hawkeyes, the Lions got some hope from 197-pounder Pete Mielnik and heavyweight Bob Jones. After not being able to put any bonus points on the board in their 21-12 victory over Northwestern, Mielnik got four points with a 17-5 major decision for his first ever victory at Rec Hall. He put Ryan Fulsaas on his back twice, and nearly had a pin before the buzzer sounded ending the second period.

Jones would not be denied in his match. With a 1:10 left to go in the first period, he got Iowa heavyweight Randy Fulsaas on his back, and registered his second pin in his last four matches.

"It was pretty amazing," Jones said. "It's great to do this against Iowa, because they are always good, but coach told us to look at the guy behind the singlet, to realize that you're not wrestling Iowa, you're just wrestling another guy."

Those two wins made the score 17-10 with three matches to go, but it would not get any closer. The Hawkeyes got technical falls from No. 2 ranked 125-pounder Jody Strittmatter and No. 1 ranked 141 pounder Doug Schwab, and a pin from No. 1 Eric Juergens at 133 pounds to close out the victory.

Coach Troy Sunderland acknowledged that things are starting to move in the right direction, but he still felt that the intensity level has to rise.

"I was pleased for the most part, but there are still a lot of inconsistencies," Sunderland said. "We have to pick it up in practice. Our second and third string guys have to push our starters to the wall a little more."

"The fight was better today, but some one needs to stand up, and believe a little more that they can get an upset."

The Nittany Lions were a bit shorthanded in yesterday's match. Sophomore Nate Wachter was not in the lineup because of a shoulder injury, and No. 17 ranked 141-pounder Nate Parker did not wrestle because of a team violation. Sunderland would not release details of the suspension.

The Lions had a closer call than expected against Northwestern. The Wildcats kept it close in every match, allowing no major decisions, technical falls or pins. The only time the Lions put more than three decision points on the board was because of a forfeit at 133 pounds.

"We needed the win tonight, and it's better that it's a Big Ten win," Sunderland said Friday. "But I thought our performance tonight was sub-par. We've got to be trying a lot more shots. Sometimes when you get in there and try to do something you get taken down, but you might come in to something. You're not going to win if you're standing around. Our kids have to realize that.

One bright spot was the wrestling of 174-pounder Cliff Wonsettler, starting in his second match in place of the usual first stringer Mark Becks who was ill. Wonsettler came the closest of any Nittany Lion to a major decision, falling one point short with a 13-6 victory.

Sunderland said that a lot of work will have to be done to get his team in the position it needs to be in for the Big Ten tournament in March.

"We've got to correct a lot of mistakes," he said. "We're not riding people very long, and not scoring a lot of points. We've got a lot of work to do. The guys have to come out and fight and be ready to battle. Today we took a step in the right direction, but we were just a bit out manned."

Penn State will be on the road for the rest of the season. This Friday they will wrestle at No. 23 Wisconsin in Madison, before facing No. 1 Minnesota in Minneapolis.