#TeamUSATuesday: Men's Freestyle National Team member Frank Molinaro
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by USA Wrestling
Photo by Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.
Frank Molinaro is currently the No. 3 wrestler at 65 kg/143.3 lbs. for Team USA’s Men’s Freestyle National Team. He earned this sport by defeating Jordan Oliver 4-2 in the true second place match at the 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
In 2016, Molinaro was the US’ Olympic Team member at 65 kg. He went 2-2, losing to two-time World champion Frank Chamizo of Italy 5-3 in the bronze medal match.
In addition to being an Olympian, Molinaro is a NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Penn State and a three-time New Jersey High School state champion for Southern Regional High School.
Molinaro took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Goodwill Hunting because it’s a great story and it motivates me.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Bruce Springsteen because I grew up in the same place.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is buffalo wings because they are amazing. My favorite spot of all time is The Chicken or the Egg in Long Beach Island.
What is your favorite sport to watch other than wrestling?
The UFC. I respect what those guys do and how hard it is. My favorite fighter is definitely Frankie Edgar. He’s the toughest guy ever. He might not be the best fighter, but the toughest.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Yeah, pretty much everything. I did football, track, cross country, baseball, tennis, and a couple other things. I was very good at cross country when I was young.
Who is your favorite wrestler to watch, either past or present?
Magomed Kurbanaliev. Growing up in the sport, I saw him as a guy I could really mirror my style after, and I used a lot of his tactics and techniques. I saw him evolve over the years, and it’s been very beneficial to have him around my weight class.
What is your favorite place that you’ve travelled to?
Iran was pretty incredible. I didn’t know what to expect going there, and when I left, I was really taken aback by how nice the people were and how excited they were about wrestling.
What are some of your hobbies off of the mat?
Some of my hobbies are fishing, golf, rod building, and that’s about it.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is not finishing strong in my career.
How did you first get involved in wrestling?
I first got involved in wrestling at the recreation club in my town called BYAA. My parents brought me in there when I was about four-and-a-half because I was so hyper. They were just trying to burn off energy.
How has wrestling impacted your life?
Wrestling has most importantly brought me to God and my relationship with God and my family. It built my character, and really the network of people that have come from it have been incredible.
What advice would you give a young wrestler?
Focus on craft, not success. Success says what more can I achieve, craft says I can’t believe I get to do this.
Do you have any pre-match rituals you try and do before every match?
I have a very strict system. I have a mental routine and also a warm-up that I run myself through. Then I also have a few other quirky things.
How would you describe your wrestling style?
Hold good position, stingy, stubborn, good left handed high crotch, hard to score on. Just a fighter.
What motivates you to be your best during training and competition?
My desire to show my family and the kids around me that with God in your life you can achieve things that seem impossible. I make sure all the success I have, that it points back to God.
The Molinaro file
Born: Dec. 27, 1988
Hometown: Barnegat, N.J.
High school: Southern Regional
College: Penn State University
Club: Titan Mercury WC/Oklahoma Regional Training Center
Instagram: @gorillahulk
• Fifth at Olympic Games (2016)
• Pan American champion (2016)
• US World Team Trials runner-up (2017)
• US Open runner-up (2017)
• NCAA champion (2012)
• Four-time NCAA All-American (2009-2012)
• Three-time New Jersey high school state champion (2005-2007)
Frank Molinaro is currently the No. 3 wrestler at 65 kg/143.3 lbs. for Team USA’s Men’s Freestyle National Team. He earned this sport by defeating Jordan Oliver 4-2 in the true second place match at the 2019 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament.
In 2016, Molinaro was the US’ Olympic Team member at 65 kg. He went 2-2, losing to two-time World champion Frank Chamizo of Italy 5-3 in the bronze medal match.
In addition to being an Olympian, Molinaro is a NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Penn State and a three-time New Jersey High School state champion for Southern Regional High School.
Molinaro took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions.
What is your favorite movie?
My favorite movie is Goodwill Hunting because it’s a great story and it motivates me.
Who is your favorite musical artist?
Bruce Springsteen because I grew up in the same place.
What is your favorite food?
My favorite food is buffalo wings because they are amazing. My favorite spot of all time is The Chicken or the Egg in Long Beach Island.
What is your favorite sport to watch other than wrestling?
The UFC. I respect what those guys do and how hard it is. My favorite fighter is definitely Frankie Edgar. He’s the toughest guy ever. He might not be the best fighter, but the toughest.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
Yeah, pretty much everything. I did football, track, cross country, baseball, tennis, and a couple other things. I was very good at cross country when I was young.
Who is your favorite wrestler to watch, either past or present?
Magomed Kurbanaliev. Growing up in the sport, I saw him as a guy I could really mirror my style after, and I used a lot of his tactics and techniques. I saw him evolve over the years, and it’s been very beneficial to have him around my weight class.
What is your favorite place that you’ve travelled to?
Iran was pretty incredible. I didn’t know what to expect going there, and when I left, I was really taken aback by how nice the people were and how excited they were about wrestling.
What are some of your hobbies off of the mat?
Some of my hobbies are fishing, golf, rod building, and that’s about it.
What is your biggest fear?
My biggest fear is not finishing strong in my career.
How did you first get involved in wrestling?
I first got involved in wrestling at the recreation club in my town called BYAA. My parents brought me in there when I was about four-and-a-half because I was so hyper. They were just trying to burn off energy.
How has wrestling impacted your life?
Wrestling has most importantly brought me to God and my relationship with God and my family. It built my character, and really the network of people that have come from it have been incredible.
What advice would you give a young wrestler?
Focus on craft, not success. Success says what more can I achieve, craft says I can’t believe I get to do this.
Do you have any pre-match rituals you try and do before every match?
I have a very strict system. I have a mental routine and also a warm-up that I run myself through. Then I also have a few other quirky things.
How would you describe your wrestling style?
Hold good position, stingy, stubborn, good left handed high crotch, hard to score on. Just a fighter.
What motivates you to be your best during training and competition?
My desire to show my family and the kids around me that with God in your life you can achieve things that seem impossible. I make sure all the success I have, that it points back to God.
The Molinaro file
Born: Dec. 27, 1988
Hometown: Barnegat, N.J.
High school: Southern Regional
College: Penn State University
Club: Titan Mercury WC/Oklahoma Regional Training Center
Instagram: @gorillahulk
• Fifth at Olympic Games (2016)
• Pan American champion (2016)
• US World Team Trials runner-up (2017)
• US Open runner-up (2017)
• NCAA champion (2012)
• Four-time NCAA All-American (2009-2012)
• Three-time New Jersey high school state champion (2005-2007)
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