Coaches have said the phrase a lot: "The Big Ten is tough and important."

Yes, I know.

Success in conference play could lead to a Big Ten title and a favorable seeding on the national stage. So when I began hearing the same thing from Penn State wrestling coach Troy Sunderland and several wrestlers, I wasn't surprised.

I was finally proven wrong. Yes, the Big Ten is a big deal for every sports team on campus, but for the wrestling team it's a whole other level.

Ten of the 11 Big Ten teams are ranked in the top 25 schools in the country, and you wouldn't expect the 11th best team in the country to only be tied for fourth in its own conference. But that's what Penn State gets for being in arguably the toughest wrestling conference with No. 1 Minnesota, No. 7 Illinois, No. 8 Wisconsin and No. 10 Iowa.

At the end of January, the Lions dropped four of five duals and fell to 1-3 in the Big Ten. The team couldn't afford to lose after that, and Sunderland warned of the consequences.

"We're a good team. We just gotta get all [of the starters] on the same page at the same time," Sunderland said after the losing streak. "We can agonize through days like this as long as they keep the focus and be ready to go at the Big Ten Championships and NCAAs. But, you know, there's gotta be a time when we get on pace, otherwise we're going to have our hands full at the Big Ten tournament."

The Lions haven't lost since and carry a four-dual win streak into the Big Ten Championships this weekend at Michigan State, as the tourney serves as a precursor for the NCAA tournament, which starts on March 15. The conference tournament is practically a sneak peek for nationals because the top contenders will presumably come out of the Big Ten.

With some weight class rankings boasting as many as seven or eight Big Ten grapplers, the conference schedule and tournament is a perfect stepping stone for the NCAA tournament.

You can say that all Big Ten wrestlers have a little bit of an edge going into nationals. Chances are most of them have already battled a potential opponent. Don't be surprised to see a championship bout premiering two Big Ten competitors.

Senior Aaron Anspach provides the perfect example. The heavyweight is currently ranked No. 3 in the country, but the top ranked man hails from Minnesota. Anspach met Golden Gophers' Cole Konrad on Jan. 21 in a dual meet where Konrad proved his No. 1 ranking with a 5-1 victory.

If these two meet again, the previous match will certainly be a benefit. The loss was one of two for Anspach this season, and he has had over a month to improve on his mistakes.

Even if they may not meet a familiar opponent, the qualifying Penn State wrestlers will nonetheless have a significant advantage in the NCAA tournament. This conference doesn't give up many easy wins. In the end, it will only improve the experience the Penn State grapplers will bring to the mat come spring break.

Now when I hear Sunderland or the wrestlers say something to the effect of "the Big Ten is tough and important", it's practically an understatement. In the wrestling world, the Big Ten is everything.

Julie Reis is a sophomore majoring in telecommunications and is a Collegian wrestling and softball writer. Her e-mail address is jgr145@psu.edu.