Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/969330
tage, its two finalists were outnumbered by Penn State's five. With a head-to- head matchup at 184 pounds between defending Nittany Lion national cham- pion Bo Nickal and Buckeye standout Myles Martin, the team race was most likely going to be decided at that weight class. Going into the evening's action, it seemed as though that match was all anyone – media, fans on the street, even some coaches and wrestlers – could talk about. Sanderson and his wrestlers had main- tained throughout the tournament that they were focused on individual results above all else. "Thinking of the team score is only going to hurt the team," said defending 165-pound national champ Vincenzo Joseph. "You can only focus on yourself." But the team race created a kind of pressure that was impossible to ignore. As Sanderson told me, "You could feel the tensions. I was feeling a little bit for Bo obviously, because we knew regard- less of what happened, we had to win that match." Nickal helped lighten the mood. Before the start of the final round, the eight medal-winners from each of the 10 weight classes were introduced as part of the Parade of All-Americans. They were ushered out in reverse order, start- ing with the heavyweights, so Nickal was the first Penn State finalist on the mat to greet the other four. Instead of a stone-faced nod, a high five or a dap to greet his teammates, Nickal put a wide grin on his face and whimsically waved as they strolled toward the stage. It had me laughing so hard that I asked him about it afterward. "It's kind of how we are, no matter what the situation is," he replied. "I think I would do the same thing whether we're on the mat and the other guys are walking out, or if I'm walking down the street on campus. So just be yourself. Everybody I think tries to act like a tough guy when they get out there and stuff like that, but it doesn't really make any sense to me. I just want to be myself no matter what." From there, Sanderson said, "They were relaxed and ready to go compete. It's the national champi- onship, and you see a lot of crazy things." Crazy things? The fi- CLEVELAND ROCKS The Penn State wrestling team gathers for a photo following its title-winning per- formance. The NCAA championship was Penn State's seventh in the past eight seasons. Photo by Mark Selders/Penn State Athletics