Jeff Becker and Adam Smetana are no longer undefeated - and could be more dangerous as a result.

Becker, Slippery Rock's junior 140-pounder, and Smetana, Mars' junior 103-pounder, both lost their first wrestling matches of the season in their respective regional finals last weekend.

Both will be joined by Slippery Rock junior 171-pounder Trevor Gallo at the PIAA Class AA Tournament this week at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Becker was 40-0 before dropping a 5-0 decision to Alex Byler (26-7) of Jamestown in the Northwest Regional final at Sharon. Smetana was 32-0 before dropping a 9-8 overtime decision to Devon Maloney (36-7) of Burrell in the Southwest Regional final at Pitt-Johnstown.

"There's a lot of pressure when you haven't lost a match all year and you're in the regional finals," Slippery Rock coach Fred Powell said. "Did that play a factor in Jeff's loss? I think it did.

"There were some other factors, of course, but I think Jeff's relieved to have that pressure off. He feels better. He's more relaxed."

Becker is making his third consecutive trip to the PIAA championships. He placed fifth last year and will face Brett Gephart (32-8) of Penns Valley in his first match this year.

"Having the experience of wrestling there before definitely helps," Powell said of the state tournament. "We upgraded our schedule, too. We've wrestled WPIAL kids, some good teams in Ohio. … Our kids are more confident because they've faced a lot of quality competition."

Becker can reach the career 100-win plateau if he fares well this weekend.

"Winning No. 100 at the state tournament would be a special thing," Powell said. "But we don't look ahead. I don't even know how many wins he needs.

"We're focused on the first match. You better be that way or you're as good as beaten."

Still, Powell admitted Becker believes he can win a state championship.

"That's every wrestler's ultimate goal, to become a state or national champion," the coach said. "Jeff's 40-1. He's going out there. He has as good a shot as anyone else and he knows it."

Smetana will face freshman Brad Kummerer (35-5) of Hamburg in his first PIAA match.

"Adam came off the mat after that overtime loss at regionals and immediately said, 'This is good for me,'" Mars coach Tom Dorsch said. "He is still very focused and very confident."

Smetana attended the PIAA meet last year as a wrestling partner for teammate Steve Perri.

Dorsch is bringing Calvin Brooks this year as a mat partner for Smetana.

"Just seeing that atmosphere last year will help him," Dorsch said of Smetana.

Smetana has wrestled in big tournaments before, including a national tournament in Fargo, N.D., last summer.

"Adam gets around," Dorsch said. "No grass grows under his feet."

Smetana scrimmaged against Dustin Brodmerkel of South Side Beaver this week to get ready for the state competition.

He knows nothing about his first-round opponent Thursday.

"I think it's better that way," Dorsch said. "Records don't matter anymore because you don't know who the other guy has wrestled.

"It's one-on-one on the mat. The other guy works and trains as hard as you do or he wouldn't be here. Just wrestle, use your head and see who's better."

Gallo (35-4) lost his regional final match as well and is looking to place at the state meet for the first time. He faces David Mendoza (34-8) of Wyomissing in the first round.

"Trevor was in awe out there last year," Powell said. "He has a lot more confidence now."

Gallo lost a 10-3 decision to Chris Hogue (27-3) of Cochranton in the regional finals.

"Hogue opened up his arsenal and Trevor never really had a chance to get into the match," Powell said.

"I don't look at who we're wrestling at state. Our kids just have to wrestle like they're capable. All I know is they're going to states and they deserve to be there."

Class AA action gets under way at the Giant Center at 9 a.m. Thursday. First-round consolations begin at 12:30 p.m.

Friday's quarterfinals are at 9 a.m., the semifinals at 7 p.m. The Class AA championship matches are at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.