GoPSUSports.ComWEB
Rotating image
Schedule | Roster | Stats | News | Notes | Photo Galleries | History | Facility | Prospects | Alumni | Quick Facts | Camps

  • print
  • email
  • font +
  • font -
  • rss

  Frank Molinaro

Frank Molinaro

Player Profile

Class:
Sophomore

Hometown:
Barnegat, N.J.

High School:
Southern Regional

Height / Weight:
5-5 / 141

Experience:
JR

RETURNING ALL-AMERICAN
Frank Molinaro heads into his sophomore season after storming the Scottrade Center in St. Louis last year as a wild card and walking away as a freshman All-American. Molinaro, who got an at-large bid to nationals, took full advantage of the opportunity to take eighth place at 141 with a 4-3 mark and become Penn State's 163rd All-American. Molinaro will now have the opportunity to improve upon that finish and his emergence as a team leader (both on and off the mat) will be key to Penn State's success.

Lion Career
2008-09:
Solid outing at the 2008 MSU Open, going 5-1 with a pin and a major to take third place...only loss to #18 Ryan Williams of Old Dominion...lost dual meet debut to Hofstra's Justin Accordino on 11/16...perfect weekend in New York on 11/21-23, dominating #3 Mike Grey of Cornell 8-3 and picking up a major and a fall at the Sprawl and Brawl Duals...went 5-0 to win 2008 Nittany Lion Open crown at 141 (one win was against non-collegiate entry), with three pins and a major...lost tough 3-2 decision to Lehigh's Seth Ciasulli despite taking well over a dozen shots on 1/4...went 1-4 at National Duals on 1/10-11, dropping close decisions to #10 Marcus Hoehn of Missouri (7-4) and #4 Kellen Russell of Michigan (3-1 in sudden victory)...made Big Ten dual debut with a win at Indiana on 1/23 and a major at Purdue on 1/24...lost close 6-2 decision to #2 Alex Tsirtsis of Iowa on 2/8...beat MSU's Collin Dozier on 2/13 then dropped close 3-1 decision to #5 Kellen Russell of Michigan on 2/14.

Big Ten Championships
(1-3, 8th, Wild Card Qualifier): Entered 2009 Big Ten Tournament unseeded and placed eighth. Downed Indiana's Andrae Hernandez for tournament win.

NCAA Championships
(4-3, 8th, All-American): Molinaro became Penn State's second straight `wild card' entry to earn All-America laurels...won four straight bouts after losing his opener and claimed the 8th place medal at 141 pounds...wrestled the #8, #9, #12, #2 and #1 seeds in the tournament, defeating the #9 and #12 seeds while dropping close matches to both #1 and #2.

2007-08
(red-shirt season): Went 2-0 at wrestle-offs...went 17-2 overall with four pins...6-0 at ESU Open to claim 141 pound title...5-0 at Cleveland State Open to win 141 pound title as well...moved up to 149 for Wilkes Open and went 1-2...posted 5-0 record at Kent State Open to win 141 pound title.

High School/Personal
Molinaro was a three-time New Jersey State Champion at Barnegat's Southern Regional High School...placed second at High School Nationals.




Career Statistics
YEAR OVERALL DUALS (B10) TRN (B10/NCAA) F TF M Pts.
2008-09 23-19 9-12 (3-5) 14-7 (1-3/4-3) 4-2 0-1 5-4 33
2007-08 Red-shirt season
Career 23-19 9-12 (3-5) 14-7 (1-3/4-3) 4-2 0-1 5-4 33
  Printer-friendly format   Email this article