PSU’s 3x AA Molinaro Knows Importance of Family, Talks to Takedown Wrestling

Posted on | January 4, 2012 | No Comments

It’s a family thing! Eight Nittany Lions are ranked, Penn State wins the Scuffle and the boys will be back in action at Battlecreek this coming Sunday with a 2 p.m. dual against Michigan State. The road Big Ten battle will take part place in Battle Creek’s Kellog Center. Penn State’s next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of ‘standing room only’ tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.

Todays interview focus’ on 3 x All American Frank Molinaro. Frank heads continues his senior season looking to become Penn State’s fifth four-time All-American and, like Penn State’s last four-timer Phil Davis, cap it off with a national championship. Molinaro was the national runner-up at 149 a year ago during Penn State’s team title run and looks for one last shot at an individual title.

Penn State, ranked No. 5 nationally, stormed through the finals of the 2012 Southern Scuffle, crowning four champions and winning the team title over No. 3 Minnesota by 14 points. Penn State won the title with 191.5 points while Minnesota was second with 177.5. The Nittany Lions entered day two with a slim 7.5 point lead over the gophers and used a superb 6-3 run in the semifinals and a 4-2 showing in the finals to claim the crown.

The morning’s semifinal fireworks led way to Penn State crowning four individual champions and getting the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award, given to All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) for his 165-pound title. Joining Taylor as titlists were All-American Frank Molinaro (Barnegat, N.J.) at 149, All-American Ed Ruth(Harrisburg, Pa.) at 174 and All-American Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) at 184.

The blistering run through the semifinals set up five championship finals matches featuring six Nittany Lions. For Penn State the championship finals began at 149 where No. 1 Molinaro met No. 11 Dylan Ness of Minnesota. Molinaro scored big for Penn State with a dominating 9-1 major over Ness. Molinaro won his first Scuffle title with a 5-0 mark with two techs and a major.

Scott Casber
Founder/Host
Takedown Wrestling Radio and TV
USA Wrestling Weekly
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