In late November, the Penn State wrestling team linked six wrestlers to National Letters of Intent, and now four months later, four have won state championships.

A pair of wrestlers from the State College Area High School, 152-pounder Nathan Galloway and 145-pounder Matt Storniolo both captured PIAA titles. The third PIAA state champion was Bentworth's C.J. Wonsettler. New Hampshire's Matt Smith who was recently inducted into the New England wrestling Hall of Fame, was the fourth.

The 2002 recruiting class, for the Nittany Lions was ranked No. 3 behind Big Ten rival Michigan and Oklahoma.

Nathan Galloway, in his four-year career, he posted a mark of 136-10. Heading into the state tournament, he was 33-0 and despite winning two PIAA titles already, Galloway never overlooks any of his opponents.

"I look at every match I wrestle as the toughest," Galloway said. "Never underestimate anyone. I saw this year's tournament as the four toughest matches."

He finished 37-0 with 27 by fall. Galloway who has played other sports throughout his childhood gave up all sports following his freshmen year. As a freshman, he played football, but he wore down by the end of the grueling wrestling season, the only year he was not a PIAA champ. Wrestling is on his mind in some capacity 24 ours a day.

Fellow teammate Matt Storniolo changed schools before his senior campaign. Storniolo at Haverford Academy is a three-time Pennsylvania Prep Champion, and a National Prep Champion.

His mother and he moved to State College in order to be closer to his sister, Lauren, who was a freshman at Penn State last year. The move was also for Storniolo to get closer to a school he was very interested in. Purdue and Edinboro pursued Storniolo.

Anything less than perfection this year, would be a disappointing for Storniolo, who was 159-7.

"Coming into this year if I didn't go undefeated I wouldn't be happy with myself," he said. "I was very confident that I could beat anyone that opposed me (in the tournament). My toughest match and biggest competition, lost in the first round."

Much like Storniolo, Matt Smith was a champion all four years. He is the first ever four-time New England Champion, has set the school-record in wins with 181 and never lost a match in New England all seven of his losses came at Mid-Atlantic Classic. His only loss in 48 tries his senior year came in the final of the Mid-Atlantic Classic to then No. 1 Mark Moos of Ohio.

Smith made the commitment to wrestling and will travel a long distance to compete, and in his barn he has wrestling mats, where he often has other wrestlers over to battle. Smith is a very intense competitor who only knows one speed.

"He has only one speed — 100 miles per hour, all the time," Timberlane Regional H.S. wrestling coach Barry Chooljian said. "He won't stop until he gets the pin. He never coasts. If he can't turn him over, he'll cut him loose and take him down again."

Smith hails from the same high school as the Lions' Eric Bradley. Bradley has posted the best single season, in his senior year, Bradley went undefeated and did not give up a point except for escapes. Chooljian said that Smith has posted the best career by far.

Wonsettler will join his brother Cliff on the Lions next year. He won the first ever Bentworth H.S. state championship when he knocked off Columbia's Aaron Anspach in overtime, 5-3.

It was extra special for Chuck Wonsettler because he initiated the junior high school wrestling program, is now the high school coach and is the father of C.J.

"It was special for him," Bentworth H.S. wrestling coach Chuck Wonsettler said. "I wanted him to get it, wanted it for school and the program."

If the recruits can be as productive as their high school careers were, Penn State will be able to regain their form of the 80's — a dynasty.