Penn State Wrestling results vs. Michigan: Grades, MVP from huge win
By Chris Snyder
Most important match
174 – No. 12 Carter Starocci vs No. 2 Logan Massa
Grade – A+
No surprise here with the 174 match being the match of the day. Starocci was up against one of the nation’s best in Logan Massa.
Now onto the match.
Lots of good action in the first period as Massa had leverage against Starocci, landing numerous front head locks. Starocci fought out of each one and the match remained scoreless going into the second period (0-0) with Starocci on bottom.
With 54 seconds remaining in the second, Starocci finally escaped the grasp of Massa and put the first points on the board (1-0). Both wrestlers finished the remaining time of the second squared up and on the feet.
Starocci started the third on top and chipped away Massa’s riding time, ultimately giving up the escape to tie the match (1-1). As with the second, both guys finished the third on their feet and no one could land a shot, sending the match to sudden victory.
Massa got Starocci in yet another tough position late in SV and Starocci again was able to slither out of it forcing 30 seconds in the first tie break.
Starocci was on top to start the first TB and he absolutely stunned Massa with a sweep and roll through on the way to earning 4 near fall points (5-1). Wow!!
Massa was slapped with an illegal move right into the beginning of TB2 and Starocci was able to hold on to the massive upset (7-1) over the No. 2 wrestler Logan Massa at 174. I wonder if Jeff Byers was going crazy on the radio call??
What a match.
Late in the second period it looked like Starocci was a bit gassed and I honestly didn’t think he had a chance in this one. He was routinely in tough spots and I was thinking it was only a matter of time before Massa took the match over.
Well I was wrong. And I’m glad I was wrong because Carter Starocci made a statement today.
