WOne of Iowa’s biggest stars promised a win over Penn State wrestling.
During a press conference after Iowa’s win over Ohio State Friday night, Gabe Arnold not only predicted, but virtually guaranteed his team would upset No. 1 Penn State Friday night in State College.
Gabe Arnold calls his shot for next week vs Penn State pic.twitter.com/ZMiMeukCJj
— Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek) January 25, 2025
Arnold making a bold claim isn’t a surprise to people who follow wrestling closely, and it must be said that he’s backed it up quite well this season.
The 184-pounder who redshirted his true freshman season last year is now a fixture in the Iowa lineup and there aren’t many in his class who have been better. Arnold is 10-0 this season and ranked No. 5 at 184 by Intermat.
WHAT ARNOLD SAID
“We have Penn State next week, and 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, we’ll be in your home dojo, and I promise, your head is mine. Slaps table book it.”
This was the closing statement of Arnold’s availability.
Arnold referenced last season’s dual in Iowa City, which did not go well for the home team.
Penn State came in No. 1 and Iowa No. 6.
The dual meet wasn’t close. Penn State throttled Iowa 29-6 and Arnold had to watch from the sidelines.
Penn State Wrestling Gets HC Cael Sanderson his 200th Win, Steamrolls Iowa
Due to coach Tom Brands and his staff wanting to redshirt Arnold, his matches were limited, and therefore, he didn’t get to face the man he angered the previous season, before Arnold had even wrestled a college match.
ARNOLD AND STAROCCI
Photo by Penn State Athletics: Carter Starocci
Penn State wrestling fans might remember the beef that Arnold had with Carter Starocci back when the former was still in high school.
Here’s what happened.
When Penn State took on Iowa in 2023’s mega-dual meet at the Bryce Jordan Center, Starocci took care of Iowa’s Nelson Brands. But not everybody was complimentary of him.
“Overrated,” Arnold, then a blue-chip Iowa commit, tweeted on the night of the dual meet. “I said what I said #seeyousoon.”
overrated…i said what i said #seeyousoon 😉
— Gabriel Arnold (@Gabe174Arnold) January 28, 2023
Arnold explained what he said.
”I was just letting my presence be known,” Arnold told FloWrestling the day after Penn State-Iowa. “I want the college world to know that I’m here, and everyone says, ‘oh, you’re a punk.’ There were some chirps back. ‘Punk high school kid,’ this, that, (people saying I) trashed an NCAA champ. Whatever.”
Arnold claimed he “wasn’t taking anything away from Carter Starocci.”
”Carter Starocci is one of the best at 174 pounds,” Arnold said, “and that’s who I have in my mirror every single day. That’s who I see. That’s who I’m going to beat next year. So, these are goals that I have set for myself, and whether people like me or not, I honestly could care less. But my goal is to beat Carter Starocci. My goal is to be a 2024 NCAA national champ at 174 pounds. So, by any means necessary, that is what I will do. So, hate me or love me, I’m Gabe Arnold.”
Well, a few days later, Starocci had a chance to say something himself.
”If you can kiss enough butt and get in the starting lineup,” Starocci told reporters, “I’ll take care of business there, and it’ll be in his home dojo, too. He can get whooped in front of his mom and dad. So, that’ll be fun.”
Carter Starocci had some words for Iowa commit Gabe Arnold, following the latter’s tweet that Starocci was “overrated”.
READ: https://t.co/w5qCuo78sp pic.twitter.com/QZj481Pq9R
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) January 31, 2023
If all goes according to plan, the two will settle the score Friday night. Starocci is also undefeated and ranked No. 1 at 184.
No. 1 Penn State and No. 2 Iowa are scheduled to meet at 7 inside the Bryce Jordan Center Friday night. The meet will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
