EAST LANSING, Mich. - Cool, calm, composed, confident and classy.

But certainly not cocky or conceited.

That's how many people would describe Minnesota Golden Gophers super sophomore Dustin Schlatter. It seems to be a fitting description for a guy who may be one of the most unassuming, unflappable, humble and laid-back superstar wrestlers on the planet.

He's only 20 years old, but Schlatter already is on the verge of doing something very special.

The sophomore already owns one NCAA championship at 149 pounds. He is an amazing 74-1 in his career and has won his last 62 matches. He is 32-0 this season and will take the No. 1 seed into next week's NCAA Championships on March 15-17 at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Schlatter is on course to join Oklahoma State's Pat Smith and Iowa State's Cael Sanderson as the only four-time champions in NCAA Division I history.

"Dustin is just so mature and doesn't get rattled out there," said Minnesota heavyweight Cole Konrad, a returning national champion. "He stays in real good position and doesn't make mistakes. He is very hard to score on - that's why nobody can beat him. He is so focused out there. It's very impressive what he's done already in his career. It's pretty amazing."

Schlatter, from Massillon, Ohio, made an immediate splash on the college scene as a true freshman for the Gophers in the 2005-06 season. He dropped an early-season, 1-0 decision to seventh-ranked Mark DiSalvo of Central Michigan on Nov. 26, 2005, but he hasn't lost since. Schlatter was 42-1 as a freshman.

He pocketed his second straight Big Ten title last weekend for a powerful and top-ranked Minnesota team heavily favored to win its third NCAA title of the decade. The Gophers won nationals in 2001 and 2002.

Carrying the label of returning national champion has meant his opponents have tried to devise different strategies against Schlatter. The result has been a lot of low-scoring matches. Schlatter edged Michigan's Josh Churella 3-2 in the Big Ten finals last weekend.

"Dustin's done a really good job," Minnesota coach J Robinson said. "I think part of the reason a lot of his scores have been close this year is because people won't wrestle him. A lot of guys are stalling and backing up. He is kind of a laid-back kid and has the kind of personality where he handles the pressure really well."

So how different has it been for Schlatter this season?

"It's a lot different," Schlatter said shortly after winning the Big Ten title this past Sunday. "There is a lot more pressure after you win an NCAA title and sometimes that can get to you a little bit, but you have to try to block it out, focus on the match at hand and try to have a good time out there. I'm still the same wrestler and the same guy I was last year. I just have to keep working hard."

Schlatter was asked if this season was any easier than last season.

"It's not really any easier or any tougher," he said. "Last year, I was a young guy that was really excited and didn't know what to expect and wanted to upset everyone. This year, I know what's going on and I'm more experienced. I don't know if that's an advantage or not."

Schlatter has a lethal arsenal of leg attacks and also has excelled in the top position, frequently accumulating several minutes of riding time in his matches. He also is strong defensively, and tough to score on. He's also difficult to ride and keep down on the mat.

Being on a team that is loaded from top to bottom also helps Schlatter cope with the grueling demands placed on him.

"It's huge having experienced guys around me like Cole Konrad, Mack Reiter and Roger Kish - guys that have had a lot of success," Schlatter said. "They are shooting for the same goals I am and it really helps having them as teammates. They are great leaders and great wrestlers, and I really look up to them."

That camaraderie is one of the reasons for Minnesota's success.

"This team is extremely close," Schlatter said. "One of the reasons I came to Minnesota is because this team is so much like a family. All these guys are my brothers and we are all pulling for each other."

Schlatter followed older brother C.P. Schlatter to Minneapolis. Dustin Schlatter was named National High School Wrestler of the Year after winning his fourth straight Ohio state title in 2004 for Massillon Perry High School. He was a two-time Junior National champion, as well as an Academic All-American.

C.P. Schlatter, a junior, is a two-time Big Ten champion at 157 pounds. C.P. is looking to become an All-American for the first time at the 2007 NCAA meet. C.P. Schlatter was seeded second at last year's NCAA tournament, but fell short of placing in the top eight.

"I think this year more than ever C.P. is really hungry and I don't think anything is going to stop him from getting to the top," Dustin said. "I know he's been working his butt off like no other. I can really see the difference in him. I think he will do real well at nationals."

The brothers have a close relationship, and C.P. Schlatter is one of his younger brother's biggest fans.

"I can't say enough about how well Dustin is doing," C.P. said. "I think he can score whenever he wants and he can dominate anybody he wrestles. He's had some close matches this year because guys aren't doing much against him. I'm sure our coaches will light a big fire under him and he will be ready to turn in another great performance at nationals."

This Minnesota team is being called one of the best in school history. Schlatter said the subject has cropped up a few times recently. The Gophers won the Big Ten title by 56.5 points over runner-up Wisconsin and won the National Duals earlier this year.

"There has been talk about it because guys like (past NCAA champions) Jared Lawrence and Luke Becker are still around, and they were on those great Minnesota teams that won it," Schlatter said. "We goof around sometimes and say, 'Man, our team would crush yours.' It's nothing really that serious - we just have fun with it. We have a good team, and it's nice just to be compared to those amazing teams of the past. But we're not there yet."