Sporting a collared shirt and a new haircut, Eric Bradley joined Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland at the podium for a press conference for this weekend's Big Ten tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.

Contrasting with his new 'do, Bradley will look to brawl his way to a second consecutive Big Ten championship in the 184-pound class while not overlooking the competition and ruining a shot to go to the NCAA Championship in St. Louis.

For the first time, he has experience to draw from. Anxiety last year has been replaced with a swagger.

"This year I'm confident and I know how things are going to go down," Bradley said. "The experience has helped me keep my cool."

Seeded second, he's out to reclaim his position on top of arguably the nation's best conference.

"I'm looking to avenge some losses in the Big Ten," he said. "Seeding doesn't matter much to me, whether I'm seeded first or second or eighth. My goal is number one. I feel like whatever I have to do, whoever I have to go through, is fine by me. It's important for me to come in and defend my title. It wasn't like guys had a good tournament, I want to be the champ."

One of his losses came against Illinois' Bryan Glynn, who is the No. 1 seed at 184 pounds.

Glynn was quoted in local papers saying that he was "in Bradley's head" after he beat Bradley three weeks ago.

"I think he's going to have a rude awakening," the junior Nittany Lion said.

"But we'll see what happens. I've gotta make it to him and he's gotta make it to me."

Bradley went 12-2 against Big Ten opponents and has yet to be taken down by one this season, including Glynn.

Bradley, capitalizing off his experience as a champion boxer in 2003, has brought the physicality needed to establish himself as one of the conference's elite.

Bradley, who came to Penn State as the pride and joy of New Hampshire, has been hampered by injuries through his career. A vertebrate problem forced him off the mat and between the ropes, in an effort to take it easy. Complaining when he first got to the conference that the lack of open space did not allow him to shoot, the sparring has paid off, as he has rebounded from his back injury to become No. 5 in the nation.

"Guys don't shoot on me as much because that's when I feel I can open stuff up," Bradley said. "My style has adapted to it. Now I'm comfortable being in a tie-up and taking shots off there. I like to mix it up more."

Losing nearly two years to injuries has prompted him and his coaching staff to request a sixth year of eligibility.

"I think my case is pretty legit for a sixth year," Bradley said.

But until the final paperwork goes through, there is the chance that this is his last run before the dual major in park recreational management and chemistry has at a national championship.

"It's a little frustrating not knowing for sure yet, but I'm pretty sure with my circumstances I'll get the year." he said. "I'm kind of trying not to focus on that. I'm trying to focus on what I need to do this year. I wrestle every match like this could be it. Like my past, you don't know what can happen at any moment."

With a win and a bye, Bradley will make another trip to nationals by securing seventh place.

Such a mindset is a trap that he is wary of.

"I'm never thinking about seventh," Bradley said. "I don't think like that because I'm in there to win it. For me it would be more like losing ... I don't think too much about qualifying. My goal is to win Big Tens."