Penn State wrestling’s Carter Starocci found himself in the spotlight once again after another week of wrestling and media action.
One of only seven wrestlers to win four individual NCAA championships, Starocci may try to navigate another tough offseason on a path to do something no one has done before: win title No. 5.
Just under a month after Starocci and Nittany Lion teammate Aaron Brooks four-time NCAA title winners Nos. 6 and 7, both competed in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials this past weekend in the Bryce Jordan Center, however, one fared better than the other.
While Brooks upset former Nittany Lion David Taylor, widely considered the No. 1 pound-for-pound wrestler in the world, in the best-of-three finals to earn a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Starocci failed to make much of a splash.
After a fairly dominant win to start, Starocci dropped his second match against NC State’s Trent Hidlay to send the Nittany Lion into the consolation bracket, which Starocci elected not to participate in, ending his run on day one.
Now, with the possibility of the Olympics ruled out for Starocci, the question on everyone’s mind was if the four-timer will utilize his last year of eligibility.
“In my last interview, I think I said I’m 60/40 not coming back, but after thinking about it some more, I’m about 60/40 coming back now,” Starocci said Saturday. “I’ll probably have another meeting here soon with coach Cael [Sanderson], and we will plan and work some things out.”
If Starocci were to use his last year of eligibility, he would have a shot at becoming the first five-time NCAA champion, a feat that would put Starocci in a league of his own likely for years to come, if not forever.
Starocci is focused first, however, on the growth and health of his Olympics-bound Nittany Lion Wrestling Club teammates.
“Right now, it’s just my focus to get these guys ready to achieve their dreams and goals with the Olympic Trials and with the Olympics,” Starocci said. “So, my heart is going to be with these guys for now… If they need anything like getting a weight cut or going to the grocery store… I want to do what I can to make sure all these guys are ready.”
In the meantime, Starocci said he has been doing a lot of thinking about his future in collegiate wrestling and to expect a decision from him soon.
“Hopefully I will make the decision soon. Hopefully within the next couple weeks. We just have so many killers in the room now with Levi Haines and [Alex] Facundo not wanting to keep cutting weight… It would be a good thing on my part if I can make the decision soon so the team can start to formulate,” Starocci said.
“I think no matter how the team formulates, no one is coming close to Penn State for a long, long time,” Starocci continued.
