Speaking and thinking about the record doesn’t bother Penn State’s Frank Molinaro. He analyzes it. He ponders upcoming threats to his unblemished mark. Carrying an 18-0 mark into this weekend’s Virginia Duals, hasn’t turned Molinaro into a superstitious or suspicious sophomore. “I do think about it once in a while,” he said. “I don’t want to lose to be honest with you. I will do everything in my power not to lose.” The ranking-studying Molinaro, No. 5 at 149 in the InterMat poll, knows some threats to the unblemished perfect loom as early as today. A knee injury to 16th-ranked Peter Yates of Virginia Tech eliminates one matchup against a ranked opponent. Advertisement Four other top-20 149- pounders are competing this weekend, including 13th ranked Matt Cathell of Kent State. If the Nittany Lions defeat Virginia Tech in their opener, they could meet the Golden Flash in the quarterfinals. Oklahoma’s Kyle Terry (No. 4) and Bucknell’s Kevin LeValley (No. 7) are also ranked in the top 10. In his lone meeting against a ranked wrestler, Molinaro edged Boise State’s Jason Chamberlain 3-1 in the finals of last month’s Reno Tournament of Champions.

Molinaro will face a brutal stretch when Penn State visits Ohio State, Iowa and Wisconsin for consecutive duals later this month. Iowa’s Brent Metcalf, Wisconsin’s Kyle Ruschell and Ohio State’s Lance Palmer are the nation’s top three 149- pounders. Molinaro is always antsy. He runs everywhere. After an interview earlier this week, he jogged back from the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex conference center and back into practice. Molinaro is especially antsy to shake hands with other highly-skilled 149-pounders. “I think I’m ready to go at this point,” he said. “I would wrestle every single guy in the top 10 if I could. I just want to get some good matches under my belt before we get into the real part of the season.” Molinaro’s sophomore season holds little resemblance to his redshirt freshman year. He struggled controlling his weight as a 141- pounder during 2008-09. Constant weight cutting produced frequent illness. His season appeared over when he went 1-3 and placed eighth at the Big Ten Championships. But Molinaro received a wildcard entry into the NCAA tournament and earned All-American honors by finishing eighth.

This year, is different for Molinaro. The process is tolerable. “I’m having fun,” he said. “That’s the main thing. I’m having fun in practice and training.” Other factors besides rejuvenation created by wrestling a new weight have led to a gaudy record. Molinaro’s conditioning — he runs to the circle for restarts — allows him to wear opponents down. And coach Cael Sanderson, who went undefeated in college, said Molinaro’s ability to score in all three positions produces consistency. “I think he’s ready regardless of who he is competing against and what their rank is,” Sanderson said. “As long as his focus is the same and he uses his strengths, he can compete with anybody.”

Thanks to the "Centre Daily Times" (State College, Pa.) for the article