It’s a new weight class, but the same old Carter Starocci that Penn State wrestling fans have gotten to know over the past five years.
Making the jump to 184 pounds, the four-time national champion at 174 pounds got everything he could have wanted for his first match in 2024 184-pound national champion Parker Keckeisen.
It was only an exhibition match at the NWCA All-Star Classic Saturday evening at Rec Hall but it was easy to see that Starocci won’t be overmatched moving up to 184 pounds.
With the two tied 1-1 going to overtime, Starocci finally got an opening to score a takedown on a single leg at the edge of the mat to take the win and get a huge ovation from the home crowd.
Even though Starocci and Keckeisen had just come off the mat, it was inevitable to think that Saturday may not be the last time the two see each other with eyes on the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia.
“If that match happens again, just make sure I’m ready to go put some more points on the board,” Starocci said. “Obviously I felt like I controlled the match and things like that, but it’s all good.”
“I hope we see each other in March,” Keckeisen said. “You get the opportunity to wrestle with the best guys. And I think I’m one of the best guys in the country. I’m going to take that opportunity 100 times. I want to wrestle Carter so I know where I can get better. I’m in it for the long game.”
Starocci’s victory capped another impressive showing for the second time in as many years at Rec Hall for the All-Star match. Shayne Van Ness (149), Tyler Kasak (157), and Levi Haines (174) all grabbed wins on the night. Beau Bartlett dropped a 4-1 decision to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez in a rematch from last year’s Big Ten and NCAA 141-pound finals.
Van Ness was making his first appearance since last year’s Classic for Penn State wrestling. He was injured in practice not long after the exhibition and was finished for the season.
“I was just really frustrated going through the process,” Van Ness said. “In the beginning, things were slow, but I just focused on one day at a time. And I’ve really taken that lesson in everything that I do. And my coach in high school used to say, ‘At midnight, the day is over, and you forget about whatever happened — win, lose or draw — and then you move on to the next day.”
Van Ness jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead on West Virginia’s Ty Watters. He scored early and often to take a 16-4 major decision.
“I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to have such a wonderful opponent and to be at home and have a packed house again,” Van Ness said. “I’ve been waiting a year for this, and I just can’t express how grateful I am for this moment.”
Kasak continued with a 4-2 win over Ohio’s Peyten Kellar.
Haines jumped two weight classes over the offseason but there wasn’t any noticeable effects on him in his match with South Dakota State’s Cade DeVos. Haines picked up four near fall points in the third period on his way to a 7-0 win.
“I didn’t recognize much of a difference,” Haines said. “If anything I just have more energy. I can really go put that pace on guys, and really get after it.
“The strategy stays the same. Just score a lot of points and go have fun.”
Penn State wrestling will open the regular season on Sunday in a 1 p.m. dual meet with Drexel, back at Rec Hall.
NWCA All-Star Classic
Results
Women
110 – Kendra Ryan, North Central, dec. Emma Baertlein, Southern Oregon, 4-2.
124 – Amani Jones, North Central, pinned Maya Davis, Grand View, 1:40.
131 – Victoria Baez-Dilone, King, dec. Carolina Moreno, Grand View, 6-2.
145 – Jamilah McBryde, Life, pinned Aine Drury, King, :46.
160 – Latifah McBryde, Life, pinned Chey Bowman, King, 3:52.
Men
197 – Massoma Endene, Wartburg, maj. dec. Derek Blubaugh, Indianapolis, 12-1.
197 – Stephen Little, Little Rock, dec. Zac Braunagel, Illinois, 2-1 TB.
285 – Taye Ghadiali, Campbell, dec. Nick Feldman, Ohio State, 8-3.
125 – Jore Volk, Wyoming, dec. Tanner Jordan, South Dakota State, 8-2.
133 – Lucas Byrd, Illinois, dec. Nasir Bailey, Little Rock, 1-0.
141 – Jesse Mendez, Ohio State, dec. Beau Bartlett, Penn State, 4-1.
149 – Shayne Van Ness, Penn State, maj. dec. Ty Watters, West Virginia, 16-4.
157 – Tyler Kasak, Penn State, dec. Peyten Kellar, Ohio, 4-2.
165 – Peyton Hall, West Virginia, pinned Hunter Garvin, Stanford
174 – Levi Haines, Penn State, dec. Cade DeVos, South Dakota State, 7-0.
184 – Carter Starocci, Penn State, dec. Parker Keckeisen, Northern Iowa, 4-1 OT.
