For many, the 184-pound national title can only be won by three men but that’s two more than Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci believes.
Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen won the national title at 184 pounds last season and many feel he can do it again.
Minnesota’s redshirt freshman sensation Max McEnelly just have Starocci all he could handle, taking him to sudden victory before Starocci pulled out his third Big Ten title.
The King Stays the King: Carter Starocci Pushed to The Limit, Emerges Victorious
Plenty feel that McEnelly planted himself into the national title discussion this weekend.
Starocci disagrees.
WHAT STAROCCI SAID
Carter Starocci improves Penn State’s winning margin 26-5 with his convincing win over Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari.
Here’s what Starocci said about the feeling people have that more than one man can win at 184.
“In my eyes, it’s a one-horse race,” he said. “It’s always me. However you want to draw it up… pin, tech fall, or close match, overtime. However you want to draw it up, it’s me.”
Starocci has plenty of reason to believe in himself.
THE DRIVE FOR FIVE
Photo by Penn State Wrestling: Cael Sanderson and Carter Starocci
Starocci has a chance to win his fifth national title, something that nobody has done before and, barring something crazy, nobody will do again.
Because of COVID-19, Starocci had five years to compete instead of four.
So, yeah, a lot is on the line this weekend in Philadelphia.
But for Starocci, it will be just another three days at the office.
“Seriously, I don’t think about it a lot,” he said. “Even when I do think about it… and, I mean, it’s there. I want to win five. But that’s where great athletes shine. So when you want that spotlight, you have that weight on yourself.
“I don’t ever feel it. When you’re out there, it’s business. So, that’s all it is for me.”
The national championships are scheduled for March 20-22 in Philadelphia.
