Columbus, Ohio, March 5, 2004 ¨C The Penn State wrestling team learned the challenge that awaits them at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships as brackets and first-round match-ups were announced Friday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. Penn State received six first-round byes meaning six men need win just one match to land in at least the seventh place bout and chance at an NCAA bid. The Big Ten will qualify 72 men to the NCAA Championships, seven at each weight and two wild cards.

Receiving the byes for Penn State were Adam Smith (125), Josh Moore (133), DeWitt Driscoll (141), Matt Storniolo (149), Jarrad Turner (165) and Pat Cummins (Hwt.). The No. 8 seed, Smith¡¯s first-round bye earned him a second-round match-up with No. 1 seed Luke Eustice of Iowa. Smith lost 10-6 to Eustice early this year.

Moore, the No. 2 seed, will get a second-round match-up with the winner of a first-round match between No. 7 seed Quincy Morgan (MN) and Trent Goodale (IA). Moore posted a technical fall over Goodale early this year and has not faced Morgan.

Driscoll, the No. 7 seed, will get a second-round match-up with the winner of Doug Withstandley (PU) and No. 2 seed Andy Simmons (MSU). He has not faced either on the year.

Storniolo, the No. 3 seed, will get the winner of Tony Turner (W) and No. 6 Dan Jankowski (PU) in the second round. He tech falled Turner and has not face Jankowski on the year.

At 157, No. 7 James Woodall will get a first-round match-up with Ryan Rhoades (OSU) who he has not faced on the year. If he wins that he will run into No. 2 seed Ryan Bertin (MI) in the second round. He has lost twice to Bertin on the year, 16-10 early in the season and 9-8 in a very close bout in Rec Hall.

Turner, the No. 8 seed at 165, will get a second-round match-up with No. 1 seed Johnny Clark (OSU). He has not faced Clark on the year.

At 174, James Yonushonis will have a first-round match-up with No. 7 seed Nick Roy.

At 184, No. 2 seed Eric Bradley got a first-round match-up with Northwestern¡¯s Joseph Gulotta. He beat Gulotta 8-4 in a dual meet this season. A win in that match would send him into a second-round match with No. 7 Nate Mesyn (MSU), a wrestlers he beat 6-2 earlier in the year.

At 197, No. 7 Joel Edwards got a first round match-up with Chase Verdoorn (MI), a wrestler he has defeated twice on the year (TF15-0;7:00 and 10-2). A win in that match would send him into a second-round match with No. 2 seed Ryan Fulsaas. Edwards lost to Fulsaas, 13-4, earlier in the year.

Cummins, the No. 3 seed at heavyweight, will face No. 6 seed Josh Buuck (IU) in the second round. The two have not met on the year. A win in that match could send him into a possible semifinal match with No. 7 seed Mike Behnke (IL) or No. 2 seed Greg Wagner (MI). He pinned Behnke earlier in the year and split a pair of matches with Wagner winning 7-3 and falling 3-2.

Action begins Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. in Ohio State¡¯s St. John Arena.