Penn State teams are used to being near the top. After the break, that is exactly where the current Penn State wrestling team is.

The Nittany Lions headed into the break ranked No. 22 in the country. Following some high tournament finishes and dual-meet victories, Penn State jumped up to the No. 10 spot. It is the highest ranking for the Lions in three years.

"It was a goal of the team's from the start," freshman Nathan Galloway said. "Right now things are going well. We are staying injury-free and things are clicking."

The highlight of the break came on Jan. 5, when Penn State opened the new year against No. 8 Lehigh. In the 88th meeting of the two schools, the Lions, then-ranked No. 22, surprised the Mountain Hawks with a 24-13 win.

Penn State got wins from senior Mark Becks (184 pounds), juniors Pat Cummins (heavyweight), Josh Moore (133) and Scott Moore (149), sophomore Adam Smith (125) and freshman DeWitt Driscoll (141). It was the first win for the Lions against a top-10 team since 2001, when they beat Lehigh.

"We're really coming along," Cummins said. "We're beginning to jell. Beating Lehigh was a big thing."

The match with Lehigh was the second of two matches against intrastate rivals for Penn State. Opening the break on Dec. 15, the Lions hosted Edinboro. With wins from Becks, Cummins, Smith, Galloway, sophomore James Woodall, and the Moore brothers, Penn State was able to grab the 24-12 victory. The first dual meet of the season for Penn State was also the first win for the Lions over Edinboro since 1998.

Driscoll said the team is starting to wrestle with a team concept, which is important for the success of a squad.

"We're getting more into each other's matches," Driscoll said. "We are more supportive [of each other]."

This team concept really comes into play at this time of year, when teams are finishing up tournament action and preparing for more dual meets. Penn State ended strong in its last two tournaments. The team ended the 2002 year with a trip to Evanston, Ill., to compete alongside 60 other schools at the Midlands open. The Lions returned with a fifth-place team finish and four wrestlers placing.

Juniors Marat Tomaev and Scott Moore ended up fourth at 133 pounds and 141 pounds, respectively. Becks continued his strong season with a fourth-place finish at 184 pounds after falling to Iowa's Jessman Smith in the semifinals -- Becks' first loss of the season. Pat Cummins also placed for the Lions, taking home fifth place in the heavyweight bracket.

Penn State ended the break with another trip. This time it was to Hampton, Va., for the Virginia Duals.

The Lions were able to capture fourth place with wins over California State-Bakersfield, Rider and Hofstra. The perfect dual-match record would not stay intact, though. Penn State lost its rematch with Lehigh and ended the tournament with a loss to Illinois.

"We are never pleased with a loss," Galloway said. "But it gives us something to work for."

What Penn State is working with is a No. 10 ranking, a 5-2 overall record and a healthy squad. Good ingredients to put the Lions near the top.