Mark Brewster wasn't planning on getting spaghetti Wednesday night at Findlay Commons Sports Night -- until he spotted Talor Battle serving the sauce.
Brewster (freshman-marketing) smiled from ear to ear with excitement after being served by the Penn State point guard.
Battle said he enjoyed getting to opportunity to provide and interact with the students. He wants them to realize he and his teammates are regular students.
Penn State athletes, including the whole basketball team, came to East Halls to promote their teams Wednesday, give away prizes and mingle with the newest Nittany Lions.
"Just looking at the history throughout the seasons of which students come to basketball games, for the most part many of them are freshmen," Penn State athletics assistant marketing manager Matthew Checchio said. "Freshmen have been a big target. We feel like they're the most enthusiastic when they get to campus here."
Nick Georgalas (freshman-business administration) had a heaping plate of spaghetti served by Battle and freshman basketball player Bill Edwards. He said he initially didn't recognize the junior until he asked him if he wanted some extra meatballs.
Downstairs by the Big Onion, there was a prize wheel full of athletic team posters, coupons and magnets.
By the time the event started at 5 p.m., the "enthusiastic" freshmen Checchio mentioned were lined up all the way to the wall by the bookstore.
Next to the prize wheel, freshmen were given the opportunity to face off against athletes in Wii Sports.
In addition to the basketball players, athletes from most teams were at the event. The teams used this as an opportunity to get recognition.
"I think it's really important," junior fencer Lee Valigorsky said. "The kids here are our support. They come watch our games, our meets, our matches ... We are 11-time national champions. It's really hard when people are like, 'What's fencing?' It's really important, especially for the smaller sports."
Valigorsky smiled and chatted with students as she handed out posters and interacted with the students.
Swimmer Heather Brady said only parents and friends usually show up for meets. She said, for teams like swimming, this event is vital to get name recognition and let the freshmen know "there are other sports."
Georgalas was very appreciative of the event.
"I've never got so close to [a basketball player] before," he said. "They were doing good last year. Hopefully we'll step it up this year and say, 'Oh, he served me at the commons once,' you know that's pretty cool ... I was thinking about buying tickets and now I'm definitely going to buy them."
