A year ago, Mark McKnight emerged for the Buffalo University wrestling team, winning a Mid-American Conference title, upending the No. 3 seed in the NCAA championships and compiling the most wins by a freshman (34) in school history.
While it wasn't easy, McKnight had clearly established himself and expectations grew.
But the going has been a bit tougher this season and although McKnight considers himself a contender at 125 pounds, he knows he'll have to defeat some opponents who have already beaten him this season.
"I've wrestled a lot of kids in the top 15 in the country and I lost to all of them," McKnight said. "There's been a big difference this year, compared with last year."
McKnight lost just eight times in 42 bouts as a freshman. Included was a dramatic win over Pennsylvania's Matt Valenti in the first round of the nationals.
McKnight takes a 27-13 mark into this week's NCAA championships (March 17-20) in St. Louis.
"I've wrestled well," McKnight said. "I done better physically than mentally. I'm trying to stay positive."
McKnight, who is a South Fayette High School graduate, said the experience on last year's national tournament should inspire him this season.
McKnight won a PIAA Class AAA championship at 119 pounds while wrestling for Chartiers Valley, which had a co-op program with South Fayette.
"Being there last year is huge," McKnight said. "Just being out there. The crowd was 20,000 for the semifinals. It was televised. The place just erupted."
His 61 career victories were achieved faster than any non-transfer Bulls wrestler in history. His 27 wins this year are a Buffalo team high and he enters the nationals ranked 19th in Intermat/NWCA poll.
McKnight is the first in Buffalo's Division I era to earn bids to the NCAA championships in his first two seasons of competition. He was the New York State Collegiate Wrestling Coaches Association's and MAC Conference's freshman of the year in 2004.
McKnight opened the season ranked seventh in four polls after losing, 6-4, to Joe Dubuque of Indiana in the All-America round last season.
In the MAC championship, McKnight was hit for a penalty point when he dislodged mucus from his nose.
He dropped a 2-1 decision to Central Michigan's Luke Smith in that bout.
But McKnight earned a wild card (at-large) bid to the NCAA championships.
McKnight said his goal for the season was to earn All-American status, which would require him to finish in the top eight of his classification.
"My ultimate goal, though, is to finish in the top three of the nation," he said.
Allemang seeks first NCAA win
In two previous trips to the NCAA championships, Duquesne's Marc Allemang is 0-4.
The Dukes' senior heavyweight enters this week's national tournament on a bit of a roll and seems poised for a breakthrough.
Earlier this month, Allemang won both of his bouts in the NCAA East Regional meet at the Palumbo Center.
In the regional, Allemang won a pair of major decisions. He whipped Brandon Schweitzer of Gardner-Webb, 16-7, before handling Millersville junior Mike Davidowich, 12-2. Allemang had five takedowns in the bout.
In doing so, the Bethel Park High School graduate extended his school record for single-season victories and clinched his third consecutive appearance in the NCAA championships.
Allemang is small compared to most of the heavyweights in the NCAA championships, as most of the contenders weigh anywhere from 260 to 285 pounds.
Allemang has won 41 of his 47 bouts this season, setting a Dukes' record for most victories in a season. Four of his six defeats have come against ranked opponents.
