Barring loss of team points, Nittany Lions clinch second straight national title
Junior Frank Martellotti returned during the second semester last season and parlayed a hard-fought Big Ten regular season into a trip to the NCAA Championships at 133. Picking up a win in his first trip to nationals, Martellotti returns for his junior campaign looking for bigger things in 2012-13.
Lion Career 2011-12: 2011-12: Wrestled unattached at the 2011 Nittany Lion Open, going 3-1 (with a NC win) and placing eighth on 12/4...made season dual debut on 1/8 with 7-5 win over Michigan State's Brandon Fifield at 133...downed NU's Jameson Oster on the road on 1/13...majored Wisconsin's Shane McQuade 14-6 on 1/15...went 2-2 at his first Big Ten Championships, going 2-2 at 133 as the No. 8 seed, finishing seventh and earning an automatic qualifier...earned the qualifyng spot with a 4-3 win over #17 Ridge Kiley of Nebraska.
Big Ten Championships (2-2, 7th, NCAA Qualifier): Posted a 2-2 mark in his first Big Ten Championship tournament, earning seventh place and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships...beat Indiana's Joe Duca 8-2 after a first round loss...dropped tough 6-2 decision to #7 Chris Dardanes of Minnesota...rebounded to earn NCAA spot with trhilling 4-3 win over #18 Ridge Kiley of Nebraska in seventh place bout.
NCAA Championships (1-2): Posted 1-2 mark in first NCAA tournament...lost to #1 Jordan Oliver in opening round...beat CS-Bakersfield's Frank Lomas 201 before falling to #6 Devin Carter of Virginia Tech.
2010-11: Stepped into the starting line-up at 125 for injured senior Brad Pataky...made collegiate debut with 5-3 win over Bloom's Sean Boylan on 11/12, then posted critical 11-6 win over Lehigh senior Mitch Berger in dual win on 11/14....went 3-0 at the Sprawl and Brawl Duals on 11/21, helping Penn State stay undefeated...perfect 5-0 day at the Nittany Lion Open on 12/5 to take the 125-pound crown (w/ two pins, a major and a tech fall)...majored Lock Haven senior Nick Hyatt 15-6 on 12/12...majored Ohio State's Bo Touris 9-1 in his Big Ten dual debut on 12/19...went 6-3 with two majors and a pin to take sixth place at the Southern Scuffle on 12/29-30.
High School/Personal
Frank was a four-time PIAA state placer at Shady Side High School, including a state championship in 2007, a third place finish in 2008 and 2009 and a runner-up finish last year. He is ranked among the nation's top 20 wrestlers at 130 by Intermat. Martellotti was also a three-time WPIAL champ and compiled a 168-21 career record after finishing 48-3 this season.
