THE GREAT ESCAPE
Southern’s Molinaro wins state crown with last-second move
By BOB BADDERS
STAFF WRITER
ATLANTIC CITY ” Getting prepared for the biggest moment in his brief high school wrestling career, Southern’s Frank Molinaro sat in the stands at Boardwalk Convention Hall on Sunday trying to envision how his state final match with Winslow Township’s Jordan Burroughs would play out. The one scenario that stuck out in the 125-pound sophomore’s mind was that of overtime.
“I was sitting in the bleachers before the match thinking, “Dear God I hope I don’t go into double overtime’ because I wouldn’t know what to chose, “Molinaro said.
His concern turned into stark reality when after regulation and a one-minute overtime session the score remained tied at one. Now came the decision he had been fretting over just a few matches earlier.
Playing to his strength, Molinaro chose bottom.
With 30 seconds standing between him and wrestling nirvana, Molinaro battled the Winslow Township junior to a near reversal, and with just three seconds to spare, powered through
Burroughs and rose to his feet, breaking the tie with the escape to win the 2005 NJSIAA 125-pound state championship.
“I thought I had the reversal, but when I didn’t hear the whistle I knew I just had to go for it, “Molinaro said.
“This is a great feeling. It’s all worth it now, the cutting weight, everything. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Taking the bottom position could have been a risky endeavor, considering that in the semifinals Burroughs was able to ride out top-seeded and undefeated Will Livingston in double overtime. Despite his prior worries, Molinaro knew that his best bet was to force double overtime.
“I was trying to get a takedown in the first 25 seconds (of the first overtime) and when I didn’t I held back and tried to get it to double overtime, “Molinaro said. “He wasn’t attacking me so I just wanted to make sure I didn’t get caught on anything and I felt like if I had to I could take him in double overtime.”
The sophomore also criticized his approach in the first overtime, wondering if he should have been more aggressive.
“There were so many people being ridden out in this tournament, that’s why I got nervous, “Molinaro said. “If I didn’t get out I would have been kicking myself because that is my best position.”
Molinaro’s championship may have come as a surprise to many, including himself, but those who have been around him in the last two years understand how special he is. And after today even he is starting to come around.
“Toward the middle of the year I didn’t think I would be able take top-three, and then regions came and I had a lot to work through, “he said. “I was a little out of shape, but when I came here all these people pumped me up.”
Perhaps this is only the tip of the iceberg for Molinaro. After wrestling for Middletown North his freshman year, Molinaro went 37-1 for the Rams and will enter his junior year at 69-3. Assuming he at least keeps up with his current pace, Molinaro should approach the 100-win plateau around this time next year. With a state title already under his belt, there is no telling how good he can become.
“I wish I had 14 other kids like him, “Rams’ coach John Stout said. “He’s only a sophomore, but he is very seasoned. He just has something special.”
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