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Carter Starocci wins another title for Penn State Wrestling

By Chris Snyder

Penn State's Carter Starocci celebrates after his match at 174 pounds in the finals during the sixth session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.220319 Ncaa Session 6 Wr 060 Jpg
Penn State's Carter Starocci celebrates after his match at 174 pounds in the finals during the sixth session of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.220319 Ncaa Session 6 Wr 060 Jpg /
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Carter Starocci comes up clutch again for the Penn State Nittany Lions as he claimed his third NCAA title on Saturday evening

What more can be said about Carter Starocci? Because I’m starting to struggle in coming up with things to describe his wrestling that I haven’t said already.

The guy simply does it all on the wrestling mat.

And he did it once again for the Nittany Lions as he pinned Mikey Labriola in the first period to take home his third NCAA title of his career.

But things weren’t always easy for Carter in the beginning of his Nittany Lions career.

Following a 19-0 true freshman season in invitationals and opens, Starocci was thrust into the Penn State lineup in their dual meet the following year against Indiana. And I remember watching his match against DJ Washington, and even though he dropped the 10-9 decision, I remember thinking that this guy could be good.

But I had no idea just how good he could become.

Flash forward later in that season and Starocci made it to the Big Ten finals against Iowa’s Michael Kemerer. Carter dropped that match and it really wasn’t that close.

Then in the 2021 NCAA’s, Starocci made a charge to the finals where he once again met Kemerer. But this time he learned from his previous loss, overcame some incredibly difficult spots, and pulled out the amazing win in sudden victory to claim his first title.

Then let’s flash forward to last season where following a win against Kemerer in Penn State’s dual against Iowa, Carter missed a substantial amount of time due to a hand injury.

Starocci was ultimately back in the lineup later in the year. And he looked as impressive as ever by claiming his first Big Ten title and he made it to the finals at 174 for the second straight year.

And with his hand heavily wrapped, Carter Starocci won another incredible NCAA finals match against Virginia Tech’s Mehki Lewis. Following his second title it was announced Starocci wrestled the second half of the season with a broken hand.

Wow.

Now look at what he’s done again this year. Every single time the guy steps on the mat there’s a massive target on his back. Everyone in the nation at 174 pounds is gunning for him and Starocci continues to line guys up and knock them down.

And Saturday night was further proof of that.

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