All eyes are on Ohio State heavyweight Tommy Rowlands.    He is a senior. He is a past NCAA champion. He is seeded No. 1. He has high Olympic aspirations. He is a small man in a weight class of big men.    When USA Today picked one athlete to profile this week leading into the NCAA Championships, it was Rowlands.    "Rowlands uses speed and moves. He has the school career record for takedowns (687) and needs 16 for the season record," wrote Gary Mihoces in his article about Rowlands, who weighs just 230 pounds, and gives up weight in almost every match.    During the NCAA press conference, when asked what athlete the coaches would most like to watch, two of the three who answered said Tommy Rowlands.    "He's a big man who hits low shots. He is fun to watch," said John Smith of Oklahoma State. "When he steps on the mat, there's always action," said Michigan's Joe McFarland.    Rowlands has one loss this year, to Penn State's Pat Cummins, which he has since avenged. Rowlands knows this is the last time on an NCAA mat for him, and he has approached it with extra effort this season.    "I want to go out on a winning note. This is important to me," said Rowlands. "I worked a little harder this year. I am ready to go. I was more intense while I was practicing."    As Coach Russ Hellickson jokingly confirmed, "he was very rough on his teammates."    Hellickson has great things to say about Rowlands, both on and off the mat.    "There is one way I put Tommy into perspective," said Hellickson. "I like the takedown style of wrestling. You have your better wrestlers go for takedowns. Tommy has already set the Ohio State all-time takedown record and is about to break the season record. Find me a heavyweight in high school or college who has ever done that? It is just not done. He runs a mile in five minutes and 26 seconds. He has intense stuff. That separates him from the crowd."    As a person, Hellickson is equally impressed with his big man.    "He is sociable, easy to get along with," said Hellickson. "There are no negatives with him . He is not hard to coach. He is not different than anybody else. He doesn't expect to be treated differently. He is very unique. He enjoys himself in practice. No matter how hard things are, he has a leadership attitude. He has a good time in practice and in competition. It is fun all the time for him. It is hard, but it is fun."    His first match was a wipeout, an 18-6 decision over Central Michigan's Bill Stouffer. Rowlands was able to open up his offense, the style that has made him such a fan favorite.    "It was a good match," said Hellickson. "That guy is not bad. The first match is always different. Tommy was aggressive. It isn't normal for a heavyweight. It's going good."    "It was good to get involved and into the tournament," said Rowlands. "It wasn't the prettiest match but I will take it. You have to keep wrestling the entire match."    In the next session, his opponent was unseeded Matt Wilcox of Clarion. Rowlands kept up his high-scoring pace, leading 19-5 in the second period before he secured the pin. There were takedowns, for sure, but Rowlands also got some back points on the opponent.    "I feel good out there," said Rowlands. "I don't have the same NCAA Tournament jitters. That comes with experience. I will try to stay fresh and be ready for tomorrow. It's a bigger day tomorrow."    Rowlands was asked for a comparison to last year, when he also had a good first day, but ended up injured and unable to complete the tournament.    "I feel a little better now," he said. "I'm moving real well and am in good condition."    Both of Rowlands' opponents today were not much bigger than him. That will change in the days ahead.    "Tomorrow, the guy I have is shorter, but he weighs about 250. In the semis, I could have (Cole) Konrad (of Minnesota) or (Leonce) Crump (of Oklahoma), bigger guys," he said.    Rowlands wrestles a bit different when he has larger opponents.    "When I take my shots, I have more meaning with them," he said. "If you get caught underneath them, it is very different. I am a little more cautious with them, but not much."    Rowlands has a future after this weekend. He plans to compete in freestyle and attempt to make the Olympic Team, dropping down to 211.5 pounds. After a few days to rest, he will be back in the wrestling room getting ready for the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas, April 9-10.    "I weighed 228 today," he said. "I am eating everything I can. I would have liked to have been 235 pounds, but this is my natural weight."