Looking at the scoring from the Penn State wrestling team's first two dual meets, something sticks out.

It's very unbalanced.

The Nittany Lions have swept points in four weight classes, but have also been denied points in four. Two of the weights that have had a tough time scoring are 174- and 184-pounds.

Redshirt freshman Justin Ortega has had his hands full at 184, and coach Cael Sanderson plans to eventually move Ortega down to his natural wrestling weight of 174. That process will take a few weeks, and until then, Ortega will have to tough it out at the higher weight.

One reason behind Sanderson's moving of Ortega to 174 is the early struggles of David Erwin. The senior 174-pounder lost at Lehigh by major decision, 17-8, in his only dual meet action this season. Prior to that, he was defeated by

Ortega, 6-2, at the Nov. 5 intra-squad meet.

Erwin's lack of success can be attributed to his inability to score late in the final two periods of his matches. In his matches against Ortega and at Lehigh, he was outscored a combined 13-3 after the first period.

Despite his struggles, Erwin is hoping to turn the slow start around.

"There's just some stuff I've got to work out and push through and work hard," Erwin said. "I know I have the ability to do it. It's just putting it together and getting out there and doing it."

Sanderson plans on taking Erwin and redshirt junior Michael Lorenzo to the Nov. 22 Sprawl and Brawl Duals in Binghamton, N.Y., where the two could split time at 174.

Erwin, who was expected to be a key part of the Lions, remains an area of interest for Sanderson, who thinks the senior's troubles may be mental.

"He's been working real hard, and he's been doing everything right," Sanderson said. "It's just a matter of going out and competing, just getting that hunger in his eye and that thrill of stepping on the mat back."

Meanwhile, Ortega is expected to be the lone wrestler at 184 after J.R. Brown left the team prior to the Lehigh match. Sanderson did not elaborate on who might eventually take over that weight class.

Despite competing against bigger opponents -- Ortega said he weighed in at only 178 pounds prior to the Bloomsburg dual -- the freshman has remained competitive.

"It's really tough, especially against Bloomsburg," Ortega said. "The kid was really strong, but it's always tougher wrestling up a weight class."

Though Ortega has lost both matches on the season, he's battled and kept the matches tight. In the Nov. 13 dual at Lehigh, Ortega took the nation's No. 12 184-pounder David Craig to the brink in a narrow 3-1 defeat.

Ortega said the ability to stick with the wrestlers at 184 is sure to provide a boost of confidence when he returns to 174 in the coming weeks.

While Sanderson didn't know what to expect out of Ortega coming into the season, he's liked what he's seen.

"Just with our training and this preseason, I didn't expect him to step up and compete the way he has," Sanderson said. "It's been a real pleasant surprise. He's only a freshman too, so he's got a lot of growth left in him."