The Penn State wrestling team is enjoying something it has not had in a long time.

Success.

That success is breeding confidence in the Nittany Lions.

"It's a whole other world," said redshirt freshman DeWitt Driscoll.

The confidence has stemmed from strong senior leadership, a talented freshman class and effective coaching.

After three straight losing seasons, when the team was a combined 19-36 in dual-meet competition, the Lions were not one of the more confident teams in the Big Ten. This season, the Lions started out in tournament competition quickly and are poised to finish strong in dual-meet action.

The No. 16 Lions will travel to Ann Arbor Saturday for a match with the No. 7 Michigan Wolverines. The Lions will enter the match with a 10-6 record and a guaranteed winning record for the season.

Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland's team will then take on No. 18 Michigan State Sunday in East Lansing and Lock Haven Wednesday at Rec Hall. After losing to No. 2 Iowa, No. 3 Minnesota and No. 4 Ohio State, the Lions' confidence has not wavered. Penn State had chances to pull off upsets in each of the matches.

The Lions were mathematically tied with Ohio State, but lost because Ohio State had won more matches. Their loss to Minnesota was by just four points and they lost five individual matches to Iowa by two points or less.

"It hurts to lose so closely," freshman Nathan Galloway said. "But every time you lose a match you just come back and work harder."

The Lions are enjoying their success as a team, not just as individuals.

"Everybody is wrestling as a team," senior Ryan Cummins said. "In the past everybody was in split groups. Now we wrestle for each other."

The success and hard work of the senior members of the squad have helped the team.

"They have led us in the [wrestling] room, teaching us what to look for in the future," Galloway said.

Driscoll, however, said the seniors have helped the team's confidence because of their success on the mat.

"You can catch a breath of relief because they get the job done," Driscoll said.

Seniors Mark Becks (33-3), Cummins (20-16), Doc Vecchio (22-14) and Nate Wachter (9-5) have come up with clutch wins against some tough opponents. Cummins deferred the praise to the freshmen, saying they are talented and hardworking.

While Galloway (26-12) is the only true freshman competing in dual meet competition, Sunderland stressed that they have been working hard and improving. While the Penn State newcomers will have the benefit of seeing a winning season in their first year, the freshmen are learning by observing Galloway's experience with the troubles of the transition to the collegiate level.

"As great a wrestler as [Galloway] was in high school," Sunderland said, "[the other freshmen] get to see how big the jump from high school is."

The increase in confidence can also be traced to the coaching staff.

The staff has worked day-to-day to keep the confidence level up by reminding the team that they are working hard and competing against some of the best teams in the country, Cummins said. Entering the season, the Lions began to believe in themselves once the team began to experience individual success. But where the confidence became noticeable is debatable among members of the team.

Sunderland said he noticed the confidence Nov. 28-29 at the Midlands, where the Lions competed well against tough competition. Driscoll said he first noticed the confidence Jan. 10-11 at the Virginia Duals, where the team placed fourth.

That was when the Lions began to believe in themselves and each other as well as pushing each other during individual matches.

"Everyone just came together," Driscoll said.

It is easy to stay together during smooth times, but it is when individuals can stay together through rough waters that they prove they are a team.

After coming up just short against Minnesota, Ohio State and Iowa, Penn State has showed it is a team.

If the squad wants more success, it will come from that confidence.