Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535618
4 0 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M talk of discarding redshirt restrictions and granting all college athletes five full seasons of eligibility in the future, Starocci's feat will be hard to duplicate even if the rules are changed. "It means a lot to me," Starocci said. "I never want to downplay the moment — it's always cool. But one thing that Coach Cael [Sanderson] really instills in us is that this is all just preparation for the next thing." 2025 Class Honored As Nation's Best Penn State is bringing another highly regarded group of high school recruits into its program this year. Willie Saylor of MatScouts put the Nittany Lions at No. 1 in his team rankings for the 2025 class. Head coach Cael Sanderson's team becomes the first to land back-to-back top classes since the rankings began in 2020. The list of newcomers is head- lined by the top senior wrestlers in the country, New York's PJ Duke and Ohio's Marcus Blaze. It also includes top-60 recruits William Henckel (Connecticut, No. 18), Asher Cunningham (Pennsyl- vania, No. 22), Nate Desmond (Pennsyl- vania, No. 39) and Dalton Perry (Penn- sylvania, No. 54). "Although their games are quite dif- ferent, Duke and Blaze are about as col- lege-ready as they get," Saylor writes. "Duke is as proficient at scoring as just about any recruit ever, and Blaze is un- takedown-able. Literally. He didn't give up a takedown in high school. Cunning- ham, an Ironman finalist and this year's Super 32 champ, made giant leaps after his sophomore year. He and Henckel will provide excellent depth in the upper weights where PSU has been dominant. Desmond and Perry have both reached major tournament finals." Blaze could slot right into the Penn State lineup at 141 pounds this winter. Perry also projects at that weight class. Duke figures to redshirt while waiting for a spot at either 157 or 165 pounds. Cunningham projects to start his ca- reer behind senior Levi Haines at 174 pounds, and Henckel is an upper weight who will likely redshirt while waiting for an opportunity at either 184 or 197. Blaze Named Winner Of Dave Schultz Award Penn State incoming freshman Marcus Blaze has another honor to add to his already crowded trophy case. The Per- rysburg, Ohio, native is the 2025 Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award winner. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced the news on April 30. "Marcus should be incredibly proud of the remarkable accomplishments he's achieved during his high school career," said Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "His dedication on the wrestling mat, combined with his excellence in the classroom and commitment to his com- munity, truly sets him apart. "As the newest recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, Marcus joins an elite group of young men whose achievements reflect the very best of our sport. We look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish in the future as he continues to embody the values and spirit this award represents." Blaze is the first Penn State incoming freshman since Alex Facundo in 2021 to win the award. Prior to Facundo, who is now at Oklahoma State, four PSU sign- ees received the honor: Mark Hall (2016), Zain Retherford (2013), Morgan McIn- tosh (2011) and David Taylor (2009). Blaze is also the award's Midwest re- gion and Ohio honoree this year. His fel- low 2025 signee PJ Duke took the New York state and Northeast region honors. Blaze is a four-time Ohio state champ who projects to wrestle in either the 133- or 141-pound weight class at Penn State. The freshman-to-be leaves high school with a career mark of 200-2. He fin- ished third at 61 kilograms (134 pounds) in the senior-level division at the U.S. Open. Before that, he won a gold medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships and took silver at the 2024 U20 World Championships. He also finished third at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. "I'm incredibly honored to receive the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award," Blaze said in a news release. "Dave Schultz was not only a phenom- enal wrestler, but a phenomenal person. "I am thankful for my family, coaches and friends. Grateful for all the op- portunities and mentors I have today. Blessed for the moments God gives me. Being recognized in Dave Schultz's name means a lot to me, and I'm really thank- ful, grateful and blessed." ■ Carter Starocci was named Open Mat's 2025 Division I Wrestler of the Year after going 26-0 and claiming his fifth national championship this past season. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS