Sure, there was rust after missing a month of wrestling because of a back injury, but senior co-captain Josh Walker came out Tuesday like it was the last match of his career.

As far as wrestling in Rec Hall, it was.

In the No. 14 Penn State wrestling team's 34-13 win against Lock Haven, Walker ended his Rec Hall career with a second-period pin of Lock Haven's Jamie Nagel. It was his 33rd career pin, placing him fourth all-time in school history.

"I was excited all day," Walker said. "It's been a month since I wrestled. Your senior year, just sitting there watching really isn't too fun. I thought this would be a good match to come back to, being Senior Night."

The rust showed for Walker in the first period. Nagel jumped on top early with a takedown of Walker, something that opponents rarely do to the Penn State heavyweight. Nagel took a 5-1 lead into the second period; Walker pinned him with 36 seconds left in the period.

"When I went down, I was frustrated because I don't usually give up takedowns," Walker said. "I never really thought I was going to lose. I just needed to regroup after that first period."

Walker, along with fellow seniors Adam Smith, Jarrad Turner, Eric Bradley and James Woodall, were honored before their final matches at Rec Hall. Bradley, who missed his first three seasons with a vertebrate injury that almost ended his collegiate wrestling career before it started, and Woodall, out for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, have applied for and are expected to receive a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. However, they were honored as seniors because their status for next year is not definite.

Walker was not the only senior that shined. Smith set the table for the Nittany Lions with 10-1 major decision against Obe Blanc, who wrestled Smith well at the Mat-Town USA tournament in November. This time, Smith had his way with Blanc, and the rest of the Lions followed suit. Bradley also won by major decision against Mike Metzger, 14-5. Turner was the lone senior who lost, falling to Rory McCoy, 16-5.

"Jarrad gave a good effort," Penn State coach Troy Sunderland said. "He has worked his butt off for five years. Coming out of high school, he didn't get a lot of notoriety, but I give him a lot of credit for working hard and being in the lineup for a Big Ten program."

Even with emotions high, the seniors remain focused on what lies in front of them. They have taken it upon themselves to make sure the young guys are ready, especially following last year's disappointing showing in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments.

"The seniors have really carried the team a lot this year," sophomore James Yonushonis said. "They are more focused on what's ahead with Big Tens and nationals."

Sunderland is proud of his seniors' accomplishments on and off the mat.

"I get people coming up to me all the time saying these guys are just great," Sunderland said. "They're going out speaking at elementary schools and youth groups."