Penn State Sports Magazine
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D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 4 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M dominate his new 197-pound class the way he has the past three seasons at 184. Never has a collegiate team had more than one wrestler become a four-timer in the same season, and Starocci and Brooks would become just the sixth and seventh wrestlers ever to win four crowns, join- ing their coach, Cael Sanderson, on that notable list. "This is a monumental moment for me, Penn State and my family. I'll have my whole family watching me, and that means a lot. I'll make sure I take care of business at the end of the year and get that fourth natty daddy and that Olym- pic title," Starocci said during a recent interview with Jeff Byers, the voice of Penn State wrestling on the Penn State Sports Network. A Challenging Path The 2024 Olympic Trials will take place in mid-April at Penn State, and Starocci will have to decide if he'll lose weight to compete at 74 kilograms (163 pounds) or quickly bulk up to 86kg (189 pounds). First things first, though. He had to re- cover from a knee injury suffered prior to the U.S. Open in April and aggravated in a freestyle loss to Alex Dieringer. Sander- son said in late August that Starocci had been working out and he expected the two-time PIAA champion from Erie, Pa., to compete this season. COVID-19 enabled several wrestlers to gain another year of eligibility, and Starocci could become the sport's only five-time champion. He made it quite clear after winning his third in Tulsa, Oklahoma, earlier this year that going for five wouldn't be on his calendar. And he said in his Oct. 26 interview that he'll be back for his "fourth and final year." He has expressed a passion for com- peting in mixed martial arts, but he'll first have to fight through a 174-pound field that — barring injuries — will have two other former NCAA champions in the weight class. Shane Griffith won at Stanford in 2021 at 165 pounds and this season will compete for a transfer-heavy Michigan lineup at 174. Virginia Tech's Mehki Lewis is back for his sixth season as well; he defeated Penn State's Vin- cenzo Joseph in the 165-pound NCAA final in 2019 and lost to Starocci on just 15 seconds of riding time in an overtime classic final in 2022. Starocci has proven he can win the tight matches. Of his 61 career victories against only two defeats, he has 12 wins by either one or two points. Conversely, he has accumulated 15 major decisions, 9 technical falls and 9 falls. Starocci is one of eight All-Americans expected to be in Penn State's lineup this season. That includes a final four of him, Cal Poly transfer Bernie Truax IV at 184, Brooks at 197 and NCAA runner-up Greg Kerkvliet at 285. Starocci and five teammates also will compete in the National Wrestling Coaches Association all-star match on Nov. 21 at Rec Hall. After last season's NCAA Championships, he said just be- ing a part of the Nittany Lion squad that owns a streak of 44 consecutive dual- meet victories transcends winning. "What Penn State is doing is a lot deeper than wrestling," he said. "I know we talk about having fun all the time, but I love those guys with all my heart. They've helped make me the man I am, and I'm just grateful to be in that com- munity." 'I'm Always Dialed In' Seven months after NCAAs, Starocci said he wouldn't want to be anywhere else. "It was a hard and long decision [to return], but I just realized that Penn State has given so much to me, that I owe it to Penn State and the whole com- munity to bring another banner back to State College," he said in a recent in- terview. "It's hard to turn this program down when you're in the best place in the world." The recreation, park and tourism ma- jor is a student of the sport. He watches film of his head coach and other great wrestlers, including some of his team- mates, while following his own path to greatness. "If you truly want something bad enough and you focus every second, ev- ery breath you take, I believe you'll reach the pinnacle of any game that you're in," he said. "That's something I focus on every single day, every single second. I am aimed toward my goal. I'm always focused, I'm always dialed in, and I will achieve what I want." He reflected on his recruiting trip in 2018 when Penn State, an underdog to Ohio State at the time, downed the Buck- eyes 19-18 in front of a raucous Rec Hall crowd. "And now it being my senior year, it just shows that time goes by really quick," Starocci said. "That's just one of the rea- sons that every single day I work so hard. The coaches almost have to lock the doors and pull me out of the room, because I wouldn't rather be anywhere else." ■ Penn State 2023-24 Wrestling Schedule Date Opponent Time/TV Nov. 12 Journeymen Collegiate Classic* 9 a.m. Nov. 19 Army Black Knight Invite** All Day Nov. 21 NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC (exhib.) 7 p.m. Dec. 3 LEHIGH 2 p.m./BTN Dec. 10 HOFSTRA 1 p.m./B1G+ Jan. 5 at Oregon St. 8 p.m./Pac-12 Net. Jan. 14 INDIANA 1 p.m./B1G+ Jan. 19 at Michigan 6 p.m./BTN Jan. 21 at Michigan State TBA/B1G+ Jan. 28 at Maryland Noon/BTN Feb. 2 OHIO STATE 6:30 p.m./BTN Feb. 9 at Iowa 9 p.m./BTN Feb. 12 RUTGERS^ 7 p.m./BTN Feb. 18 NEBRASKA 4 p.m./BTN Feb. 25 EDINBORO 2 p.m./B1G+ Mar. 9-10 Big Ten Championships% TBA Mar. 21-23 NCAA Championships# TBA * at Bethlehem, Pa. ** at West Point, N.Y. ^ at Bryce Jordan Center % at College Park, Md. # at Kansas City, Mo. "I owe it to Penn State and the whole community to bring another banner back to State College. It's hard to turn this program down when you're in the best place in the world." S T A R O C C I