For the Penn State wrestling team, Thanksgiving means one thing: A trip to Thomas Field House in Lock Haven and the annual throw down that is the Mat Town USA tournament.

As it is every season, Mat Town will be the Nittany Lions' first taste of some top rate competition. In addition to perennial bottom feeders Buffalo, Slippery Rock and Franklin and Marshall, quality teams like Nebraska, Purdue and Pittsburgh will be represented. The Cornhuskers are especially strong and should do battle with Penn State for the team title.

With these top teams come top individuals and the potential for some outstanding matches. Two weights in particular, 133 and 149, will be especially strong and be of great interest to Lions fans.

At 133, senior Josh Moore will be a strong favorite but will face a test from Rene Hernandez of Purdue and Joey Malia from Nebraska, both of whom are rated among the 10 best at their weight.

The semifinal round at 149 could be the most exciting part of the tournament. Travis Shufelt of Nebraska, Mike Maney of Lock Haven, Lions freshman Matt Storniolo and Dan Jankowski from Purdue, all ranked in the country's top 20, will be in attendance. There is a good possibility of a rematch from last Saturday between Storniolo and Maney. If things work out and Storniolo faces both Maney and Shufelt, both ranked in the top five by Amateur Wrestling News, the experience would be invaluable and unlikely to happen again until the NCAA championships.

Other top wrestlers in attendance will be Jason Powell of Nebraska, the number one man 125 pounds, Troy Percival for Ohio at 157 and Morgan Hunter of Lock Haven at 197.