ALBANY, N.Y. — For one, it was the end of a long and tumultuous career. For the other, it was the first chance on a national stage to put his past behind him.

Penn State transfers, JaMarr Billman and Nate Parker, came to Albany and the 2002 NCAA wrestling championships in search of national championships and redemption. While neither left on Saturday with a title, they both left at peace with themselves and with their wrestling careers.

Parker, still wrestling at 141 pounds as he did as a Nittany Lion but now doing it for the Oklahoma Sooners in his first national tournament since 1999, wrestled above expectations. Entering the tournament unseeded, Parker went on a run to the weight class's semifinals, upsetting the No. 3 and No. 6 wrestlers in the process. Despite falling in the semifinals, Parker battled back to finish fifth and become an All-American for the first time in his career.

"I'm not satisfied, but I'll take it," Parker said. "I'm happy to be an All-American, but I would have liked to have done better. But I have another year left and I still have time to reach my peak."

For Billman, the third seed at 149 pounds for Lock Haven, wrestling in his final NCAA tournament, the same result offered less consolation. Three wins found Billman in a showdown for the ages in the semifinals against Minnesota's No. 2 Jared Lawrence, the eventual national champion.

After battling Lawrence on even terms for three periods and an overtime session, the match went to the 30-second rideout. Lawrence won the toss and chose bottom. Showing immense grit in a tough situation, Billman struggled to maintain control. Finally, 28 seconds into the period, two seconds away from his coveted finals berth, Billman relinquished. Lawrence advanced and Billman was left to cope with letting his last chance at a national championship slip through his fingers.

In typical Billman fashion, he regrouped and fought back to finish fifth in the nation for the third time in his career.

"It hurts, it hurts, but there's nothing I can do about it," Billman said as he watched over the tournament's waning moments. "You win some, you lose some. There's nothing I can do about it now."

Watching Billman in action, one can still see glimpses of the wrestler that had recruiters flocking to Easton H.S. and later had Penn State fans abuzz with what Billman could accomplish. He is not as lethal from the neutral position as he once was but the quickness is still there. Also there, as unmistakable as ever, is the go-for-broke style that endeared him to so many. Simply put, Billman will try any move from anywhere on the mat at any time during the match.

Parker, looking stronger now three years removed from the first time he took the mat as a Lion freshman during the 1998-1999 season at 133 pounds, is the same wrestler. He's still tenacious on his feet and he's still using his long frame to be an outstanding mat wrestler.

For Billman and Parker, who were only briefly Lion teammates during the 1999 season, the road was similar. Each showed remarkable potential as freshmen, with Billman especially taking on the persona of a can't-miss prospect. His brash style and penchant for bold moves invigorated the Penn State program and had fans predicting national glory.

But off the mat troubles for both Billman and Parker soon poisoned the environment for them at Penn State and decisions to transfer out followed. Each found a new home and continued their wrestling and academic careers hoping to put the past behind them.

"I don't want to say anything bad about Penn State because I loved Penn State, I honestly did," Billman said. "The wrestling program there just wasn't a healthy situation for me. I came to Lock Haven and got a fresh start, a new outlook on life."

For Parker also, the choice to leave was the right one.

"Penn State was put in the past from the moment I left," Parker said. "It's like night and day. Oklahoma has been so supportive through my ups and downs. It's an experience I wouldn't have traded for the world. Even if I hadn't have placed here, I would have been happy with all of the support my coaches and teammates have given me."

Coaches of each wrestler are also glad about their decisions.

"We're thrilled with Nate Parker and for Nate Parker," Sooner head coach Jack Spates said. "He's had a lot of growth both personally and with his wrestling throughout the year. The transition was easy for him, because he loved it right away. He's a very caring and sensitive individual and we're proud of him off the mat as well as on it."

One of Billman's coaches at Lock Haven, Cary Kolat, knows a thing or two about what Billman went through. After two outstanding seasons at Penn State, Kolat too opted to transfer to Lock Haven where he went on to win two NCAA championships.

"JaMarr had a good college career overall," Kolat said. "We all would've liked to see him walk out of here with an NCAA crown, but things didn't work out. We're all happy he decided to come here. Anybody would be happy to get a guy like JaMarr Billman on their team."

As the final whistles blew in Albany, the two embattled wrestler's paths split once again. Billman's college career came to an end Saturday morning, while Parker's took a big step to one last run at a national title.

"Right now, I'm happy, I'm content," Billman said. "I wish I could have gone out another way, but things just didn't work out"

Parker now, will gear up for his final chance.

"Oh yeah, I'm definitely going to go all out for the national championship," Parker said.

"Next year's going to be a lot different."