Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1528325
4 4 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M F orget about the fact that Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci can win a fifth NCAA title this season, something that's never been done and — barring another global pandemic that granted an extra year of eligibil- ity — very likely would not be accom- plished again. Never mind that the sixth-year Smeal College of Business graduate student has won the past 69 college matches in which he's competed. And put out of your mind the image of him winning five bouts en route to his fourth NCAA title last season in Kansas City virtually on one leg, because his right knee had been badly damaged al- most five weeks prior. Taking those particular nuggets off the board and saying that there is no one quite like Carter Starocci remains an ac- curate proclamation. He's a LaVar Arrington and Micah Par- sons rolled into one. The only difference is that wrestlers don't wear numbers, so he can't rock a No. 11. Former Nittany Lion wrestler and 2008 NCAA champ Phil Davis — still on the MMA circuit and still outspoken — also can be compared, but Starocci is equally bold, brash and spon- taneous … and nothing short of pure enter- tainment — on and off the mat. His social media presence is well- known, as are his boasts that no one is better than he. So far, he's been right about that. This year, he'll be 10 pounds heavier, moving up to 184, and in the Nov. 16 NWCA All-Star match at Rec Hall, he'll face defending 184-pound titlist Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa. 'A Fierce Competitor' After Starocci's third title in 2023, he downplayed the chatter that not only could he become a rare four-timer — he is one of seven in NCAA history — but the only five-timer. He effectively said there wasn't much chance of him stick- ing around. But times, minds and feelings can change … and here Starocci is, ready to go for title No. 5. The way he sees it, if he can win No. 4 on one leg, capturing a fifth on both legs should follow. He won his five NCAA bouts last March by margins of 6, 2, 4, 2 and 2 points. By contrast, he won in 2023 with 2 falls, 2 shutouts and a regular decision. In last season's championship tour- nament, his mind and body were not on equal footing. "I had to play smart, I had to play chess and things like that," Starocci said. "That just shows my wrestling IQ. It's not just the technique — I own that already — it's also my IQ on the mat." At 23, he's one of the oldest in the room but calls himself a young buck. "I learn every day just as much as any of these guys. I ask more questions than any of the guys," Starocci said. "I view myself as a guy that's young in the sport, still learning, still hungry, still very pas- sionate. I just lead by example. I'm not saying what I do is right or wrong, but I know for damn sure when those lights are on, I'm going to show up and show out every single time." Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said Starocci will be more comfortable at 184 and noted that his 2023-24 season was pretty rugged. "He actually had a rough year last year. He also had a stretch there where he had mono, and he had COVID, and he had all these things at the same time," Sanderson said. "And then he destroyed his knee the last match [Feb. 16 versus Buffalo], as everybody saw, and he still was able to go compete. He's unique. He's a fierce competitor. I don't know if there was ever a chance he wasn't com- ing back." Healthier Than Ever Starocci isn't necessarily singularly focused; there's a lot swirling around in that open-book mind of his. He has a number of name, image and likeness deals, including "Carter's Drive and Dine for Five," a YouTube/social media series that addresses his wrestling goals while he and various guests dine at some of State College's most popular restaurants. He's also on tele- vision touting a lo- cal car dealership and is channeling his overall focus on this season and beyond. "I think a little bit down the road," Starocci said. "I don't spend too much time there, but I think about it. "I do plan to win the World Cham- pionships, and then I want to start my The Rest Is History The Rest Is History Carter Starocci will spend his final college season chasing an unprecedented fifth NCAA title J I M CA R L S O N | B L U E W H I T E C O N T R I B U T O R "I'm not saying what I do is right or wrong, but I know for damn sure when those lights are on, I'm going to show up and show out every single time." S T A R O C C I WRESTLING