It isn’t literal, but there have been multiple shots fired between Iowa and Penn State wrestling ahead of Friday’s dual meet, and Carter Starocci is part of it.
It started Saturday after Iowa’s win over Ohio State when Iowa 184-pounder Gabe Arnold had a message for Penn State.
“We didn’t get the job done last year and that kind of sucks, but we’re going to get it done this year. This time, in your home dojo. I promise, your head is mine. Book it,” Arnold said.
‘Your Head is Mine’: Iowa Wrestling Star Promises Win Over Penn State
On Monday, it was Starroci’s turn to respond. As usual, it was a ‘get your popcorn ready’ moment for Starocci, who usually doesn’t disappoint.
“He’s their starter,?” Carter Starocci asked. “I thought the other guy (Angelo Ferrari) was their starter. Didn’t the other guy win the (Soldier Salute)?
“I have to gameplan for the other guy. The other guy is a better wrestler. I don’t know. Maybe he’s trying to sell tickets, but I think our crowd comes out every time, so there’s nothing to say. I’ll be there Friday night ready to go.”
Carter Starocci on Gabe Arnold’s trash talk
“I think the other guy’s a better wrestler” pic.twitter.com/J0AlI3zWSM
— Evan Smith (@EvanRGSmith) January 27, 2025
Starocci referred to the finals of the Soldier Salute, where Arnold and Ferrari were supposed to wrestle each other in the finals. Arnold forfeited the match, which is common when a school has teammates wrestling each other in a tournament.
It’s just the latest in a battle of words that goes back to before Arnold even got to Iowa City.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Starocci took his shot back at Arnold but one shouldn’t expect most of the Penn State roster to partake in the battles.
“I blame Fortnite,” PSU coach Cael Sanderson joked. “That’s just because when they shoot me, they talk trash.
“We don’t really worry about that kind of stuff. It’s just part of sports. When you’re a little kid and you’re warming up and the kid is across the mat staring at you trying to intimidate you or something, it’s just sports. We just try to do our own thing when the whistle blows. But we don’t think too much about it.”
Penn State 165-pounder Mitchell Mesenbrink isn’t a big fan of smack talk, either. Although he’s a couple weight classes down from Starocci and Arnold, Mesenbrink will downplay the war of words.
“When people feel the need to say something about someone else, it’s usually because when they look at them, there’s a mirror,” Mesenbrink said. “It reflects something in them that maybe they don’t have.”
“I usually try not to get caught up in smack talk and thinking about those other things. At the end of the day, it’s just a game. There’s no need to make it more than it is. I try to think about that when there’s negative things to say. Why? What is the root of me wanting to say those things?”
Penn State and Iowa will wrestle at 7 p.m. Friday at the Bryce Jordan Center. The dual meet will be televised on Big Ten Network.
