Impossible Carter Starocci feat all of a sudden possible again with 5-in-5 rule

Records are meant to be broken, but former Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci’s five national titles seemed to be the exception for that rule. At least we thought. 

When Starocci won his fifth national championship in 2025, it seemed like a feat that could never be reached again, considering it took a once-in-a-generation level of talent and a pandemic dramatically altering rules throughout college sports to achieve. Yet, not even two years later, the impossible task Starocci accomplished is suddenly at the very least possible again because of the NCAA’s new 5-in-5 rule. 

Starocci redshirted during the 2019-20 season that didn’t get to have an NCAA Wrestling Championships because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether redshirting or not, though, every athlete during that time got an extra year of eligibility, which ultimately created the opportunity for Starocci to become the first wrestler in NCAA history to win five national titles, including four at 174 pounds and his last one at 184. He went a staggering 104-4 during his six-year career.

He was supposed to not only be the first to be atop the podium five times, but the only. Repercussions from a virus ruining a year of sports eventually faded and Starocci was part of a dying breed as athletes went back to the normal four years of eligibility, plus a redshirt where wrestlers can compete limitedly but not for a title. 

But nothing is normal about college sports today. The 5-in-5 rule will give all college athletes five years to compete while also eliminating redshirts across college sports. Every wrestler from now will at least have the same opportunity that Starocci made the most of. 

Carter Starocci's record could be challenged by David Taylor's Oklahoma State trio

At the most recent NCAA Wrestling Championships, an eye-popping five freshmen won gold, including Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl (125) and Josh Barr (197). However, both reached the top after a redshirt season so will have just three more years to compete. 

Then there’s Oklahoma State’s phenomenal trio of freshmen coached by former Nittany Lion David Taylor and part of his first full recruiting class leading the Cowboys. The Pokes set an NCAA record with three true freshmen winning national titles in Jax Forrest (133), Sergio Vega (141) and Landon Robideau (157). There’s a real chance that at least one of those three by 2030 could join Starocci as an unprecedented five-time national history. If not then, eventually, since Starocci proved it’s possible so will likely be done again. 

No matter what the future holds, though, Starocci will always be part of history as the first, even if he's one day not the only. 

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