Anyone who hasn't noticed USMMA wrestling should begin to pay attention. With many of the local college basketball teams struggling, there are few programs on Long Island that can count themselves among the best in the country.

The USMMA wrestling team is one of the few among the elite. The team has achieved the highest ranking -- 17th -- in the program's history under coach Tim Alger and went 7-0 in the Centennial Conference. The team has an overall record of 12-4 with one of its wins coming against Division I Princeton.

Lofty rankings and heavy praise can sometimes be a detriment to a team. Athletes can get over confident or cocky, which can lead to a lack of focus. That hasn't been a problem for USMMA, Alger said.

"The older guys aren't taking anything for granted, but sometimes I wonder about the younger guys," Alger said. "As much as they act like they have blown me off, they have performed at a very good level this year."

Senior Troy McGuinness, who wrestles at 184 pounds, doesn't believe the success and accolades the team has received this year hasn't gone to anyone's head.

"I don't put too much stock in the rankings, all that matters is that we show up to wrestle," McGuinness said. "Rankings are going to win us the match. That seems to be the feeling throughout the team. Part of our success is that we show up to wrestle every day."

As for the team's success and gaudy 12-4 overall record, both McGuinness and Alger count the team's 38-0 win over the Coast Guard as the biggest of the season. It was the first time USMMA shut out its biggest rival.

Alger said: "It was huge?It's always the biggest dual meet of the year. And to do it in the fashion we did in, was awesome. And we did it in front of a packed house."

Coming into that match, there wasn't a member of the team who didn't think they could beat the Coast Guard. In fact, Alger expected a big win. "I felt like we did what we should've done that night. I would've been disappointed if everyone lost that night," he said. "We came back in several matches. And that was a good sign."

McGuinness was particularly pleased with the shutout. "That was a great feeling," he said. "They beat us in close matches the last two years."

Although he doesn't want to dismiss the team's success in the regular season, McGuinness said the team's sole focus is making the nationals. USMMA faces Hunter in its final match of the regular season. After that, it's on to the Centennial Conference Championships (National Qualifiers) at Ursinus on February 23.

"We need to get healthy, focused and ready for the national qualifiers," Alger said. "I think all 10 of our guys can compete if they are on their game. And we will probably have six number one seeds."

Sophomore Eric Vincent (197 pounds) is the highest ranked USMMA wrestler (9th) in the country. Danny Song (2004-05, 2005-06) and Phillip Green (2006-07) were the last USMMA wrestlers to qualify for the nationals.

Alger doesn't think his team will have a problem being ready. "They are unflappable," he said. "I don't' think they've been intimidated at all this year. They've been confident."