National recognition for the Penn State wrestling team kept coming this week.

First, the team moved up in the latest InterMat poll to No. 6, its highest ranking since 1999. Wrestlers in six different weight classes are currently ranked in the top 20. And Adam Smith was named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week after knocking off the No. 9 and No. 12 wrestlers in his 125-pound weight class, en route to earning his first-ever national ranking, at No. 8.

This weekend, the team will look to prove that it deserves these accolades when the Nittany Lions take on No. 19 Northern Iowa in the opening round of the National Duals, a tournament the Nittany Lions last won in 1993. The Panthers come into the tournament with a 6-2 record, but have dropped their only two matches against Big Ten opponents, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Penn State wrestling assistant coach John Hughes said the weekend will be big for the Lions as it is the team's last competition before the Big Ten conference play opens next week.

"The wins will go to the toughest competitors, not the most talented wrestlers," Hughes said.

Key matches for the Lions will come at 149 and 197. No. 12 Matt Storniolo takes the mat against No. 17 Josh Wooten at 149. After losing a couple straight, Storniolo won against West Virginia. At 197, No. 15 Joel Edwards will square off against No. 6 Sean Stender of Northern Iowa.

Should the Lions advance past Northern Iowa, they will likely face a quarterfinal showdown with the nation's No. 3 team, Iowa State. The Cyclones, which are 11-1 on the season, boast a ferocious lineup with eight ranked wrestlers.

The potential Penn State vs. Iowa State matchup offers a host of fascinating individual matchups, including Josh Moore against the Cyclones Zach Roberson at 133 and Matt Storniolo against Trent Paulson at 149.