Never in the 12 seasons since Penn State joined the conference has the Big Ten wrestling tournament been so wide open or hard to predict.

This year, there is no Iowa or Minnesota juggernaut preordained to win the title and leave the rest of the field scrambling for second.

When the tournament kicks off at Ohio State's St. John Arena on Saturday morning there will be at least five different teams -- Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Penn State -- with legitimate chances at the team title.

What follows is the first half of a weight by weight breakdown of the 2004 Big Ten wrestling tournament.

125 pounds

Without question, this is the toughest weight the Big Ten has to offer. For evidence, look no further than this very campus.

Penn State's Adam Smith had a breakout season this year, going 26-11 and earning a No. 15 national ranking, yet he is seeded eighth at this tournament with pretty much no room to argue. Four of the country's top seven at 125 come from the Big Ten, which should make up for an exciting semifinal round.

The favorite has to be Iowa's second-ranked Luke Eustice. The senior went 22-1 this season, including 8-0 in Big Ten duals. His toughest challenges should come from Tom Clum of Wisconsin and Mark Moos of Michigan.

Smith, who fell to Eustice 10-6 in the dual meet, should get the chance for a rematch in the quarterfinals.

133 pounds

The finals at 133 could potentially be the culmination of a great Big Ten rivalry. Michigan's Foley Dowd and Penn State's Josh Moore are seeded one and two, respectively, and should face each other one more time with a Big Ten title on the line.

Adding to the anticipation is the fact that Dowd sat out of the Lions-Wolverines dual meet this year, amidst allegations of avoiding Moore.

"I plan on wrestling Dowd in the finals," Moore said. "I feel I'm peaking at the right time and he hasn't gotten the hard matches in this year like I have."

Other contenders include Mark Jayne from Illinois and Ed Gutnik from Wisconsin.

141 pounds

It's been a tough season for Michigan State. The Spartans went 2-12 this year, including a lousy 1-7 mark in Big Ten meets. But one Big Ten champion or one NCAA All-American can wipe out an entire season's worth of disappointment. For Michigan State, all hopes will rely on Andy Simmons to provide just that.

The road to a Big Ten championship for the second-seeded Simmons goes through Iowa's top-seeded Cliff Moore. The two met earlier this season, with Moore coming away with a 3-0 victory.

Another strong contender for the title will be Indiana's Coyte Cooper.

149 pounds

When Penn State wrestled Michigan this past February, Dowd wasn't the only Wolverine MIA. Ryan Churella also took a pass on that match, conveniently enough missing a rematch with Penn State's Matt Storniolo. Churella, who beat Storniolo in a furious overtime bout at the National Duals, will be seeded first for this tournament, while Storniolo will be third.

The Penn State camp has been pining for a rematch, but first Storniolo will have to get by a likely semifinal match with Iowa's Ty Eustice.

"He has a great opportunity this weekend," Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland said of Storniolo. "I can see him getting another shot at Churella, and I think he can beat anyone in the country."

157 pounds

Aside from heavyweight, no weight class in the Big Ten has the same star power as 157. Defending champion Ryan Bertin of Michigan is seeded second and is on a collision course with Illinois' top-seeded Alex Tirapelle. Both are incredibly gifted and well conditioned and always on the attack.

Tirapelle has been flawless this season, racking up a 28-0 record, including a victory against Bertin in December. But the postseason is a different story and the experience of being a national champion cannot be overestimated.

"Ryan is just a real hard worker," Michigan wrestling coach Joe McFarland said. "He expects so much of himself and he won't let down."