A team never wants to lose, but a split is not a total loss.

Penn State wrestling opened its dual meet season with a win at Clarion and a loss the following day in a close battle at No. 14 Edinboro.

The Nittany Lions soundly defeated Clarion 26-9, and extended their winning streak against Clarion to 16.

Penn State was led by the strength of first-year wrestlers. Both Todd Brennan and Daniel Waters posted dual meet victories. The 174-pound Brennan earned a major decision over Ryan Pataky, 17-2. Like Brennan, Waters tallied the major decision as he outscored his opponent 14-6.

Penn State jumped out to an 18-6 lead after No. 14 Scott Moore won his bout by three, 10-7. Doc Vecchio ended the afternoon with a major decision win over Jamie Durkin, capping the scoring at 26.

Caros locks up victory

Edinboro jumped out early to a 10-0 lead over Penn State and held off a charge from the Lions in the end to win 20-16. The 184-pound Mark Becks started the scoring for the Lions when he captured the major decision over Matt Camino, 17-6. Josh Moore and Pat Cummins won decisions to get the Lions back in contention as the lead was cut to 16-10.

Edinboro's Chad Caros secured the victory when he recorded a major decision against Scott Moore. Nate Watcher gained a fall in 54 seconds to end the match.

Becks shocks nation in Reno.

Becks won the 184-pound title at the Reno Invitational over then-No. 1 Oklahoma State's Pat Polozio. The victory over Polozio put Becks in the Top 10 and has allowed him to garner national recognition. The last Penn State wrestler to defeat a No. 1 wrestler was in Jamarr Billman in 1998. The victory in Reno pushed Becks' record to 15-1, with his only loss coming in the final at the Penn State Open to Scott Justus.

The team finished fourth overall in Reno. Missouri won the team title by scoring 172.5 points. Oklahoma State finished close behind with 171 points. Arizona State scored 115 points, and Penn State 106.5 points.

Trio of Lions captures titles

Jason Woodall, Josh Walker, and Pete Mielnik all received a late Christmas present when they won individual championships at the Wilkes Open.

The redshirt freshman Woodall claimed his first-ever collegiate title at 149.

He defeated Old Dominion's Derrell Lorthridge by fall in 6:36 seconds in the final. Captain Mielnik won the title at 197. Mielnik has struggled with an elbow injury all season, but has refused to let it keep him out of the lineup.

Injury Bug in State College

Penn State continues to be hit by injuries. After winning his first dual meet match this year, Waters will have to wait until next year to win his second. The 157-pounder was lost for the year when he tore his ACL in practice.

Eric Bradley is still fighting a back injury and is out indefinitely. The 184-pounder Jon Sauve also is out indefinitely with a bulging disk.

Jones' Career on Hold

Last year's national qualifier Bob Jones' wrestling career is on hold, and the heavyweight's future in wrestling is uncertain.

Jones, who also plays football, has been selected to play in the 56th annual Hula Bowl.