Wrestlers enjoy home-mat advantage at NCAAs

By RYAN HOCKENSMITH
Collegian Staff Writer

While opponents meandered around airports in search of boarding flights, jockeyed for hotel rooms and attempted to adjust to a foreign environment this week, Penn State wrestlers lay snug in their beds with no worries of delayed flights, weird sleeping arrangements or a need for maps.

This year's NCAA Wrestling Championships begin today at The Bryce Jordan Center, essentially a home meet for the No. 6 Nittany Lion grapplers.

Incoming wrestlers, who invaded State College throughout the week in preparation for NCAAs, weren't so fortunate.

More than 300 qualifying wrestlers from 78 other Div. I schools invade the center this morning with aspirations of All-American honors floating in their heads. Only the top eight wrestlers at each of the 10 weight classes receive the coveted All-American status.

Therefore, every advantage available is critical.

And according to the opposition, Penn State has a big one -- the hometown, home-mat, home-bed advantage.

"There's always something to wrestling in front of the home crowd," said J. Robinson, coach of the Big Ten champion Minnesota. "Penn State fans are vocal, too.

"It does make a difference having people yelling for you."

Wisconsin 165-pounder and third-ranked Don Pritzlaff, cousin of Lions All-American Glenn Pritzlaff, also noticed the perks of Penn State wrestling at home.

"I know during the season, I always felt a little better when we were at home," the Badgers sophomore said. "You still have to do the same thing, though -- go out there and get the job done.

"But it helps, just being able to sleep in your own bed."

Glenn Pritzlaff agreed with his relative.

"I think (sleeping at home) makes you relax," he said. "I think that's important. So many guys get (to NCAAs) and clamp up.

"It's great to be right at home."

Being at home has proved to be a benefit in the past for the Lions.

At Big Ten Championships last year, held in the center, Penn State rallied to finish second behind Iowa in the team race.

In its only appearance at the center this season, then-No. 4 Penn State handled then-No. 16 Nebraska 22-12 in the Lions' season-opener. The Cornhuskers have since moved up to No. 10 in the Amateur Wrestling News rankings.

First-year coach Troy Sunderland said his Penn State team has capitalized on wrestling at home in the past and expects that to factor in again this season.

"With the crowd that we're expecting, that will definitely be a spark," Sunderland said. "Watching the way Penn State wrestled at Big Tens (last season) when they were at home proved that.

"They pulled out some close matches then -- it's definitely an edge."

Mark Janus, the Lions entrant at heavyweight, was especially emphatic about remaining in State College.

"Just because of the home crowd," Janus said, "we're at a huge advantage.

"It's just another little thing . . . and little things can be big things at nationals."