Tonight at 7 in Rec Hall, Penn State and Illinois will thrown down in the biggest wrestling match these parts have seen since the Nittany Lions and Minnesota, both ranked in the top five at the time, met at the Bryce Jordan Center in Feb 1998.
According to the Intermat rankings, the Illini (6-0) are third in the country and have a lineup long on both balance and depth. But this isn't like years past when Iowa or the aforementioned Gophers would stroll onto campus, maim, pillage and generally wreak havoc before leaving with a victory.
Penn State (7-2), which will also face Ohio State at 2 on Sunday in Columbus, comes into the meet ranked sixth and should give their guests everything they can handle, if not more.
With ranked wrestlers up and down the lineups on both sides, this evening will provide a number of scintillating match-ups. A pair of back-to-back matches could go a long way in determining a winner. At 125, the Lions' Adam Smith, ranked eighth, will square off with No. 4 Kyle Ott and at 133 pounds, Penn State's No. 6 Josh Moore will meet No. 6 Mark Jayne.
"When I have tough opponents, I try to step it up a notch or two," Ott said. "I'll be nervous, but I'll be ready to go and I'll wrestle hard. It should be a tough match."
Moore, who is recovered from the flu bug that slowed him at the National Duals last weekend, has beaten Jayne before. The two met in the 133 pound third place match at the Big Ten championships last season and Moore scored a 6-1 decision.
Another standout match will come at 184 where No. 9 Eric Bradley will face the Illini's fourth ranked Brian Glynn. When the two met earlier this year at the Midlands tournament, Glynn won a tough match 5-3.
If that's not enough intrigue for one night, the air is thick with rumors of redshirt freshman Jeremy Hart making his much anticipated Lions debut at 165.
Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland is understandably mum on that topic, saying that Hart is only one among three that may hit the mat at the weight.
But Sunderland is sure of one thing. Tonight is a big night for his program, Illinois' program and for college wrestling in general.
"It should be an exciting night," Sunderland said. "Illinois comes to compete. I know our kids are anxious. We hope to see a lot of people in the stands."
