Molinaro receives draw for 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier in Turkey
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
| Frank Molinaro in the finals of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com |
ISTANBUL, Turkey – The last U.S. wrestler attempting to qualify for the Olympic Games, Frank Molinaro (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) has weighed in and received his draw for Sunday’s men’s freestyle competition at the 2nd World Olympic Games Qualifier at the Bagcilar Sports Complex.
Molinaro will begin his Olympic qualifying quest against 2013 World champion and World University Games silver medalist David Safaryan of Armenia. Safaryan finished in fifth place at the 1st World Olympic Games Qualifier held in Mongolia. He was a bronze medalist at the European Olympic Games Qualifier.
In order for Molinaro to qualify 65 kg for the U.S. and himself to compete at the Olympic Games he must make the finals in Istanbul.
One month ago Molinaro earned the right to attempt qualifying 65 kg for Rio by winning the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He won a gold medal the Pan American Championships in February and won both the Grand Prix of Spain and Guelph Open in 2015. Molinaro was a NCAA champion for Penn State in 2012.
United World Wrestling will provide a live stream, brackets and complete results for the men’s freestyle competition tomorrow on its website www.unitedworldwrestling.org. For those who enjoy following on Twitter, the hashtag is #LastChance2Rio
Please note that Istanbul is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern time zone. TheMat.com and all of USA Wrestling’s social media platforms will also provide extensive coverage. The opening session of the men’s freestyle tournament will begin at 3:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time on Saturday.
Jesse Thielke (59 kg) qualified for the Olympic Games on Friday in Greco-Roman, while the women’s freestyle team earned no additional qualifiers. Currently the USA has 13 athletes qualified for the Olympics, five in men’s freestyle, four in Greco-Roman and four in women’s freestyle.
2nd WORLD OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
At Istanbul, Turkey
U.S. men’s freestyle pairings
65 kg/143 lbs. – Frank Molinaro, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Vs. David Safaryan (Armenia), 2013 World champion, 2013 World University Games silver medalist
