Episode 37 of Bonus Points features Frank Molinaro, 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion in men's freestyle at 65 kg/143 lbs.
Molinaro navigated a gauntlet of talented contenders to capture the Olympic Trials gold in Iowa City, Iowa on April 9. He defeated two-time NCAA champion Kellen Russell, four-time U.S. World Team member Brent Metcalf, four-time NCAA champion Logan Stieber and two-time Junior World medalist Aaron Pico on his road to gold.
In the best-of-three championships series Molinaro defeated Pico two matches to one.
Molinaro now turns his attention to qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games by placing in the top three at the first World Olympic Games qualifying tournament in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on April 24. If necessary, the final World Olympic Games qualifying tournament will be held in Istanbul, Turkey two weeks later with the top two wrestlers in each weight class qualifying for the Rio Olympics.
The past two seasons Molinaro has won three gold medals at international competitions. In 2015 he claimed gold at the Guelph Open and Grand Prix of Spain. This February he ran the table at the Pan American Championships to take top prize.
Molinaro was four-time NCAA All-American for Penn State University. He won the NCAA championships in 2012 and was NCAA runner-up in 2011.
Topics of discussion include his remarkable Olympic Trials performance, qualifying for the Olympic Games, how to beat the odds and much more.
Follow USA Wrestling Bonus Points Ep. 37 guest Frank Molinaro on Twitter at @Gorillahulk149 and follow show host Richard Immel at @Richard_Immel.
Listen to previous episodes of the show on the USA Wrestling Bonus Points Archives or by subscribing on your favorite podcast listening application.
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