Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals
  Jan. 17-18, 2004  CSU Convocation Center  Cleveland, Ohio   
  In the history of the Cliff Keen/NWCA National Duals, this may be one of the deepest fields to date. A total of 14 of the top 20 teams in the country, according to the latest NWCA Division I Wrestling Poll, will be in attendance, including defending NCAA team champion Oklahoma State.    The first round has some solid team matchups, but fans will be more enthralled with the individual matchups: Thompson-Lee, Esposito-Manotti, Crump-Rowlands .    There are also a lot of top freshmen in this tournament, seemingly more than in past years. The main benefactors of this youth movement seem to be No. 3 seed Iowa State, No. 4 seed Michigan and No. 8 seed Oklahoma, who are all driven by youth.    The two unseeded teams that could provide the biggest fits for opponents are Northern Iowa and Central Michigan. Both teams have battled early season injuries and absent wrestlers from their lineups. Their opponents, Penn State and Hofstra, respectively, cannot be too happy about the draws for this year's tournament.    FIRST ROUND:  #1 Oklahoma State vs. Cornell  The Cowboys are beginning to get back on track, but fortunately for them, peaking is still off in the far distance. Defending NCAA champions Johnny Thompson (133) and Jake Rosholt (184) have struggled this season for different reasons. Freshman phenom Johnny Hendricks (157) has also struggled, but was inserted into the starting lineup against Iowa. The clear leaders of this squad right now are Tyrone Lewis (165) and Chris Pendleton (174), both of whom do not get near the respect and publicity they deserve.  Cornell lost a lot of its guns last year. Back is NCAA champion Travis Lee (133), who has moved up in weight this year and now set up the matchup everyone has waited all season for. He will face Thompson. This individual match should be an all-out brawl. Both wrestlers are physical and like to score. For Cornell, this is a chance to prove that some individuals belong. All-American Dustin Manotti (149) will have a big match against Zack Esposito and Tyler Baier will face off with Pendleton. Neither Cornell wrestler is favored in these two meetings, but don't be surprised to see one of them pull out a win.  TheMat.com Prediction: Oklahoma State, 25-9 (Lee over Thompson)    #8 Oklahoma vs. Ohio State  This is a battle of two teams going in completely different directions. Oklahoma is young and getting dangerously better, while Ohio State is coming off two losses to Missouri and Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Sooners have Sam Hazewinkel (125), Brandon Hardy (133), Jeff Ecklof (149) and Charles Jones (157) all in their first years, and that doesn't even include defending NCAA champion Teyon Ware (141) and 2001 All-American Leonce Crump (285), who is the only wrestler to have defeated both Steve Mocco of Iowa and Tommy Rowlands of Ohio State. The Buckeyes will be looking for some bonus points in this dual. John Clark (165) needs to come out of his slump. He has been pinned twice in the last two weeks. If he can get a technical fall or pin, Ohio State could be in business. The matchup everyone will want to see is at heavyweight, where Crump and Rowlands will meet again. These are two very athletic heavyweights, and this match should have a lot of bearing on NCAA seeding. On paper, both teams are favored at five weights. But, as Ohio State has proven so far in 2004, matches aren't wrestled on paper. This dual is a rematch of one of the most exciting dual meets in National Duals history. Two years ago, Ohio State downed Oklahoma 19-17 in the semifinals when Rowlands pinned Crump in overtime. Don't expect that same finish here.  TheMat.com Prediction: Oklahoma, 17-16 (Rowlands over Crump)    #5 Minnesota vs. Cleveland State  This is a tough draw for the home team. Even though Minnesota is in a down year, the Gophers are still a heavy favorite in this dual meet. A lot of bonus points could come for the Gophers from defending NCAA champion Damion Hahn (197), All-American Jacob Volkmann (165), Andrew Domingues (125) and Josh McLay (184). The best individual match of this dual meet should take place at heavyweight between Minnesota freshman Cole Konrad and Cleveland State senior Russ Davie. These are two wrestlers that will be looking to push their way into the All-American mix, and this match could have a lot of say as to which one is going to be on the outside looking in. However, Cleveland State will be in front of a home crowd, and this is an improving program. Minnesota should expect a major fight in this dual meet, win or lose. Cleveland State will come to wrestle hard, and they could catch the Gophers by surprise if Minnesota isn't ready.  TheMat.com Prediction: Minnesota, 31-6    #4 Michigan vs. West Virginia  The Wolverines are on a mission this season. This is a young team, but also experienced. With defending NCAA champion Ryan Bertin (157) leading the charge as only a junior, the future is certainly bright in Ann Arbor. West Virginia is almost certain to get points out of 184-pound Greg Jones as he will face freshman Greg Jones, and this year's 141-pound darkhorse Joe Clarke will be favored against Michigan's Clark Forward, but the Wolverines are favored at the other eight weight classes - and in some cases favored heavily. Michigan has had a tendency to struggle at the National Duals, which makes this matchup somewhat intriguing. This entire tournament could be a big coming out party for the maize and blue. If Michigan get a couple of big wins early, then that momentum and confidence could carry them into the finals.  TheMat.com Prediction: Michigan, 30-7    #3 Iowa State vs. Pennsylvania  The Cyclones have been the surprise team so far this season, but this event will prove if this team is for real, or just a one half wonder. Freshmen Trent Paulson (149), Travis Paulson (157) and Kurt Backes (184) have been stellar so far this season, and these three are half the reason Iowa State is where it is nationally right now. But the true leader so far this year has been senior Zach Roberson (133). He is wrestling with more passion and aggression so far this year. He is hungry to be on a championship team, and it is obvious by just looking in his eyes before a match that he will do whatever it takes to make that goal a reality. Pennsylvania is in a rebuilding stage. There is still a lot of youth and inexperience in this lineup, but the Quakers are getting better. 125-pound Matt Valenti is one of the more underrated wrestlers in the nation at his weight class. He should have a solid match with an improving Grant Nakamura. At 174, sophomore Matt Herrington appears to finally be showing the skills that made him a high school star. He is coming off a solid Midlands performance and should be able to dominate his opponent in this dual meet as well. At heavyweight, Matt Feast is also moving up the ladder nationally. But those are the only three weights where the Quakers are favored, making this an uphill battle for the East Coasters.  TheMat.com Prediction: Iowa State, 26-11    #6 Penn State vs. Northern Iowa  It's somewhat of a mystery as to how Penn State ended up with this low of a seed, but what's done is done, and the Nittany Lions may be in a good position to make a run at the finals in this competition. These two teams match up perfect, so this is a great draw for Northern Iowa, and a bad draw for Penn State to have to start the day. Penn State has proven