Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/629829
Arena, leaving up to 26,000 ticket-buyers out of luck. At Penn State it could create a similar logistical nightmare, one that Sanderson isn't quite sure how he would tackle. "I'm not a big risk-taker," he said. "I don't want to set a date and line everything up and have it rain or snow. There are just a lot of variables, but it's de2nitely some- thing to think about. It wouldn't be any- thing immediate, maybe down the road a few years, but we'll see." Before anything like that is organized, however, Sanderson's sights are set on selling out the BJC against the defending champions and getting a more accurate gauge on the region's overall interest in his team. The bigger stage – the spotlight – also helps his wrestlers prepare for the post- season. As 149-pound Zain Retherford said, the BJC mat "is on a platform, so it's simulating a big tournament, like when you're in the 2nals in front of 15-16,000 people, so I think it's a good test, to test your nerves and keep everything in check. It's fun. That crowd gets really loud, es- pecially if you get a pin." As of mid-January, Penn State had yet to exhaust its allotment of tickets for the Ohio State match, although the university was expecting it to sell out in the 2nal couple weeks. Sanderson was hoping he would be able to maximize the crowd at both events, but he didn't know for certain. He's hoping, at least, that this one maxes out so he can continue building on the two-match sell- out streak the Lions started when they hosted Nebraska Jan. 15. "Our steak starts over," Sanderson said. "I think I took [the 2rst BJC dual meet] for granted a little bit, thinking it was going to sell out on its own, but we need to get out there and do a little bit more. The team we have and the excitement level – in college wrestling you're not going to 2nd it like this anywhere in the country with the points being scored and the excitement. If we can't sell out the arena, then that is on me. So we'll see moving forward. ... I think Ohio State will be a big one because they're the defending national champs." More juice was added to the Buckeyes' lineup with the turn of the new year. Senior Hunter Stieber (149) has returned a4er two o3-season surgeries; head coach Tom Ryan removed the redshirt from blue- chip freshman Myles Martin (174); and freestyle world champion and All-America AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION After welcoming Wisconsin in De- cember, Penn State is getting set to host its second BJC dual meet of the season when Ohio State visits on Feb. 5. Photo by Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics