UNIVERSITY PARK — Frank Molinaro wasn’t going to wait for his opponent to come to him.

It’s not his style. And it’s not the Penn State way.

A few minutes later, Molinaro, the nation’s top-ranked wrestler at 149 pounds, had his hand raised, the beneficiary of a 10-1 major decision over West Virginia’s George Scheffel, who mounted little offense in the win.

It was the theme of the day for the No. 5 Nittany Lions in their 34-6 drubbing of the Mountaineers last Sunday. Penn State wrestlers would push on while their West Virginia counterparts would back off.

West Virginia wrestlers were hit with more stalling calls then they generated offensive points.

“Lehigh also, and West Virginia, I felt like our conditioning was superior throughout the whole match,” Molinaro said. “Even the matches we lost we were in way better shape and I think we’re training really smart and the coaches have got us on a really good workout plan and I think everyone felt fresh and just energized in the matches.”

But it’s not just the physical preparation that has readied the defending national champions to hang with any opponent for however long. It’s an attitude, a wrestling philosophy instilled in them by coach Cael Sanderson.

All season, Sanderson has preached pushing the pace, controlling the center of the mat, perfecting baseline defense and being strong down on the mat. Since a sluggish dual against No. 4 Minnesota, Penn State has wrestled at furious paces in their last two duals, both dominant Penn State wins.

“I think a lot of guys that we’ll probably wrestle this year aren’t going to want to wrestle at our pace,” Molinaro said. “It’s not frustrating dictating the pace, but it’s frustrating when guys don’t wrestle and they stall. That’s frustrating.”

And for their frustrations, Penn State was awarded handsomely against the Mountaineers who were called 10 times for stalling resulting in numerous free points for Penn State wrestlers.

“I think it’s just the attitude you wrestle with and when you get stalling points it shows how much better conditioned you are and what your goals are compared to someone else that’s stalling, not trying to win,” Molinaro said.

Ruth keeping a low profile

Ed Ruth has breezed through his weight class thus far this season.

His 19 dual meet points lead all Penn State wrestlers. His three pins have come almost easily for him. He’s beaten two fellow ranked wrestlers handily.

All this — to chants of “Ruuuuuuuth!” — and the Nittany Lion sophomore thinks he still has a way to go before he reaches his peak this season. On Tuesday, Ruth said he feels like he’s flying under the radar.

“I kind of feel like that. We haven’t done anything crazy yet,” Ruth said. “It’s still kind of the beginning of our season so right now everything, I’m kind of easing into it. I like the pace we’re going at now.”

Perhaps it’s been easy for Ruth’s bouts to get lost in the scuffle this season. He wrestles after No. 1 165- pounder David Taylor — who has put on his own show so far this season — and just before local favorite and defending national champion Quentin Wright.

Still, Ruth sees plenty of room for improvement in his own game and he’s finding out in his second year, what worked for him in the past isn’t coming as easily this season since other wrestlers have more tape on him now.

“I’m just trying to keep my style the same, keep it consistent with last year,” Ruth said.

Flocking to see the champs

Winning a national championship will do wonders for a team’s confidence. It can widen a team’s recruiting field and increase its national exposure.

A victory of such magnitude also puts more people in the seats to watch said team compete.

The evidence is there this season.

Penn State has packed Rec Hall for its three duals against Bloomsburg, Minnesota and West Virginia, and fan attendance for Penn State

wrestling matches is the highest it’s been in two years.

The defending champions have averaged 6,138 spectators per match this season, up from 4,847 through this point last year.

The team’s Jan. 22 dual against Iowa sold out in minutes.

There are tickets for the team’s duals against Ohio State and Pittsburgh currently on eBay, but fans will have to bid a pretty penny on them. As of Wednesday evening, a Penn State-Pittsburgh wrestling ticket was going for $157 on the online auction site with tickets for the Ohio State dual at $238.

Sherlock’s ankle healing

Penn State 141-pounder Sam Sherlock is out of the walking boot that had been affixed to his left ankle last week and could wrestle when the Nittany Lions travel to Lock Haven on Sunday.

While Sherlock did not take part in the team’s pre-practice warmup Tuesday, he was listed on the team’s depth chart as the projected starter at 141 pounds along with Bryan Pearsall who will again likely serve as Penn State’s alternate 141- pounder.

Sherlock was not available for comment before practice.

Travis Johnson can be reached at 231-4629.