SLIPPERY ROCK - The pressure of finding a college and making weight is off Jeff Becker now.

But the pressure to succeed is higher than ever for the Slippery Rock High School standout wrestler.

The same can be said of his teammate, Trevor Gallo, who has some lofty expectations hanging over him as well this season.

"I'm just going each day right now," said Gallo, who placed sixth at the PIAA Class AA Championships last season and is among the favorites to come home with gold this season. "When sections come, I'll worry about them then. I don't want to look too far ahead. If I do, it will just mess with me mentally."

The two seniors received a lot of attention early this season. Both are considered among the best in the state. And both are expected to be major players at the state tournament.

But the onus is on Gallo in particular. The 171-pounder, who started wrestling at a relatively late age, is ranked No. 1 in the state by Off the Mat, a wrestling publication based in Clearfield.

While Gallo finds it flattering to be so highly regarded, he also finds it as a source of even more stress to succeed.

"It's a lot of pressure on me to keep it," Gallo said of the No. 1 ranking. "It's going to be tough to do."

Slippery Rock coach Fred Powell doesn't think so. He's seen Gallo's metamorphosis from a raw talent in eighth grade to a state-title contender first hand.

He's also taking the day-by-day approach with his two stars.

"I don't look at placing (at the state tournament) as part of my vocabulary," Powell said. "That's history. I look at their ability, their talent. I have confidence in all facets of their wrestling. I have confidence in them winning."

Powell said he believes that as long as his two top wrestlers are earning victories, everything else will fall into place.

Things fell into place nicely for Becker this off-season.

While at a camp in Virginia, he met new Old Dominion University wrestling coach Steve Martin, who was tipped off to Becker's skills by Powell several years ago.

It didn't take much convincing for Becker to decide to commit to Old Dominion."I wanted to get it done early," Becker said of his college search. "I only wanted to have to focus on one thing, my wrestling."To further help Becker with that goal, he is no longer under the gun to cut weight before each match. Last year, he placed third at the state tournament at 135. This year he is up to his more natural weight of 145.No more counting calories or burning off a pound or two before a match."He's wrestling like an adult," Powell said. "He feels good and he looks good."Powell said the advantages to moving up two weight classes would show more late in the season, when Becker will be more rested and less taxed mentally."He had chosen a college and he doesn't have to cut weight," Powell said. "That's two stressful things he doesn't have."Off the Mat has Becker ranked No. 2 in his weight class.Powell doesn't concern himself with his wrestler's competition in their weight classes and he stresses that to both Becker and Gallo."As I try to impress upon them, be less concerned with who in your weight class you have to wrestle," Powell said. "That gives you a lack of confidence in winning. Whoever is there, you find a way to beat them."Becker and Gallo wrestle each other in practice and Powell joins in from time to time.Both wrestlers find the experience of wrestling each other and their coach invaluable."Jeff has more experience than I do, so I learn a lot from him," Gallo said. "Coach Powell is an extreme technician."Powell is finding it harder and harder to keep up with his stars.That's just fine with him."I can work with them directly, and I can feel a difference and see a difference," Powell said. "Fortunately, I'm in a position where I can test them in various situations. Their performance level has increased."Their attitude right now is very positive," Powell added. "You notice attitude, you see attitude. Their attitude is very encouraging to me."