Who Wins? 2012 Frank Molinaro vs. 2013 Jordan Oliver

Who Wins? 2012 Frank Molinaro vs. 2013 Jordan Oliver

Penn State wrestling versus Oklahoma State wrestling live on FloWrestling on February 19. Cael Sanderson will bring his No. 2 Nittany Lions into Gallagher-Iba Arena to face John Smith and the No. 1 Cowboys in the National Dual Finals.

Feb 9, 2017 by Mark Bader
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Live This Week: Feb. 16 - Northern Colorado at Air Force | Feb. 17 - Purdue at SDSU | Feb. 17/18 - New England Prep Championships | Feb. 18 - Iowa at Edinboro | North Dakota St at South Dakota St | #2 Penn State at #1 Oklahoma State

As second-ranked Penn State prepares to travel to No. 1 Oklahoma State for the National Duals championship match on Sunday, Feb. 19, let's take a look back at wrestlers from either school that we wish could have faced off against each other in years past. One in recent memory that would have been a dream matchup to see is Penn State's Frank Molinaro in 2012 versus OSU's Jordan Oliver in 2013 -- the senior year for both.

LIVE Exclusively On FloWrestling: Watch No. 1 Oklahoma State host No. 2 Penn State on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 3 PM CST

They had similarly impressive seasons: Molinaro was 33-0, while Oliver was 38-0. Both won the NCAA title at 149 and became four-time All-Americans. Just one year apart, these two never met in college as Oliver moved up two weights from 133 to 149 after Molinaro graduated.

This one would have had people talking -- it's like a diesel truck (Molinaro) versus a sports car (Oliver). Molinaro was a physical brute on the mat with a nearly unstoppable left-handed high crotch and an engine that just kept running. He had an intensity and ferocity about him. Off the mat he was nice as can be, but on the mat he wasn't afraid to try and remove your limbs.

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Oliver epitomized what it meant to be an Oklahoma State wrestler: speed, precision, technique. While Molinaro dominated his opponents with physicality, Oliver overwhelmed them with varied attacks from different angles. He might take you down with five different attacks from five different setups, or he might just use the same one over and over.

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Here's how the match goes down:

1st Period:

Oliver dances from space and attacks early on a low single. He comes out the backdoor and is stalemated. Molinaro presses forward, and JO hits an Easton shrug and takes him to the mat for two! Oliver works for an unsuccessful cradle and Molinaro escapes -- Oliver has 39 seconds of riding time. As Molinaro works for an underhook and presses forward, Oliver does a nice job clearing the ties and avoiding the lefty hi-c from Frank. At the end of the first, it's 2-1 Oliver.

2nd Period:

Molinaro has the choice and starts down. Oliver is again riding strong. Molinaro is almost out, but Oliver drops down to the ankle and gets a stalemate! Molinaro is back to his feet and out, but JO has 1:06 riding time and the score is tied at 2-2. Molinaro, again pressing forward, has taken multiple attacks successfully defended by Oliver. There is another shot and a stalling against Oliver late in the second, but Molinaro is relentless. He continues to attack and earns the takedown on the left-handed high crotch and erases the riding time. After two, it's 4-2 Molinaro.

3rd Period:

Oliver starts down and earns the escape after a moderate ride from Molinaro, who now owns a 4-3 lead. Oliver, leading hard on that left leg, gets a reaction from his fakes. He fakes again, and Molinaro times it perfectly. Molinaro is in deep, but JO is able to earn the stalemate with a limp leg. Both guys exchange shots, and now it's Oliver really picking up the offense. When Jordan Oliver decides to go, watch out! Two hard fakes got Molinaro reacting, and JO pulls the trigger on the third one. As Oliver goes to the legs, Molinaro tries to sprawl his legs back. Oliver continues to drive, and Molinaro hits his butt... TWO! Time runs out, and Oliver wins. It was a wild finish, and Penn State doesn't like the call -- very similar how Oliver versus Logan Stieber ended in 2012, but this time Oliver gets the takedown.

Final Score: Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) dec. Frank Molinaro (Penn State) 5-4

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