Entering his fourth year as Penn State wrestling coach, Troy Sunderland faces the most important season of his tenure — off the mat.

With the early signing period for high school recruits beginning on Nov. 14, coaches across the country, such as Sunderland, are scrambling for signatures from the nation's top prospects.

While this routine is nothing new for Sunderland, who has been coaching and recruiting wrestlers since 1993, there is a new sense of urgency this year.

After two straight sub-par seasons, everyone involved with the program is itching for a return to national prominence. The quickest way to do that is to bring talented wrestlers into the program.

"By no means is this program where I want it to be," Sunderland said. "We have built a good foundation but this is a critical recruiting year. We want to compete for a national title in the very near future and we need to bring quality kids in."

The competition for the top wrestlers in Pennsylvania is becoming more and more fierce. With so many Division 1 programs in the state to choose from, the Nittany Lions do not have the luxury of being the dominant figure in Pennsylvania collegiate wrestling and must fight for each and every recruit.

Recently, Lehigh, a longtime rival on the mat, has been getting the better of Penn State on the recruiting front. High profile stars such as Troy Letters, Mike Pirozzolla, John Trenge, and Derek Zinck have all signed with the Mountain Hawks.

For Pirozzolla, Trenge and Zinck, Lehigh is closer in proximity than Penn State and had an immediate advantage over the Lions. But Tom Elling, editor of Pennsyvania Wrestling, a publication devoted to wrestling in the state, believes Lehigh's coaching staff is the difference.

"I think bringing in (former NCAA champion at Penn State) Kerry McCoy had a big impact on Lehigh's program," Elling said. "He's a very big draw for their program. Also I think (Lehigh head coach) Greg Strobel has a little more experience than Troy. He might be a little more comfortable, but that will come for Troy as he gets more experience."

In addition to battling in-state competition, the Lions have to fend off out-of-state powers that come to the Keystone State looking for talent. Wrestlers such as Teague Moore, Jody Stritmatter, Chris Fleeger and Rocky Mantella have left Pennsylvania in search of wrestling glory.

Things are not all doom and gloom for Penn State though. Three straight classes recruited by Sunderland have included talented wrestlers, such as Marat Tomaev, who the Lions beat Lehigh for, James and Jason Woodall, Jon Sauve, and Dewitt Driscoll. All but Tomaev hail from Pennsylvania and all were highly sought after.

New assistant Sammie Henson, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist, adds another big name to the Lions staff and someone with extensive experience.

"Whenever you add someone to your staff with the credentials of Sammie Henson to your staff, it's a big draw for your program," Sunderland said.

Also, the Lions recently received a commitment from Nathan Galloway from State College High School. Galloway, a consensus all-American and one of the country's top prep wrestlers, has already won two PIAA championships and is a heavy favorite to win a third. Although Galloway is a local product, his going to Penn State was not a sure thing. The Lions coaching staff beat out Illinois for the coveted prospect.

"He's very sound technically, he's been winning championships since he was nine or ten," Elling said of Galloway. "He's a very intense competitor, he has a great attitude, and wants to win desperately. He's a great recruit for Penn State."

Other top prospects in Pennsylvania this year include Jermaine Jones of West Chester, Matt Ciasulli of Easton, Christian Franco of Whitehall and Jeff Breese of McGuffey.

During his time as Penn State coach, Troy Sunderland has had the difficult task of bringing in talented wrestlers that are also good citizens. With the problems of Nate Parker and Jamarr Billman behind the program, Sunderland has begun to make headway in this mission.

"You can definitely see the impact coach Sunderland has had on the recruiting process," Pete Mielnik, a starter at 197 pounds, said. "You look around the room now and you see not only good wrestlers, but good kids. The focus of this team is on academics and wrestling and that's how it should be."

Now, as he faces a crucial season on and off the mat, Sunderland feels like the program is coming around.

"Kids see that we are on the upswing and they want to be a part of it," he said. "It's a difficult sell sometimes, but we want to let them know that Penn State is a special place. They see practice and realize it's a different level and they like it."

For Penn State to return to its once seemingly immovable position as a wrestling power, Sunderland will have to make the hard sell. A top class this year, coupled with young talent like Scott and Josh Moore, the Woodalls, Tomaev, Eric Bradley, Sauve and Driscoll, may just bring the Lions back to the top.