Will Penn State wrestling fans finally get a matchup that’s more than two years in the making?
We’ll find out for sure this weekend at the Big Ten championships in Evanston, Illinois, but it’s certainly possible.
Carter Starocci and Gabe Arnold have been linked for a while but they’ve never linked up on the mat.
Nittany Sports Now detailed the full beef between the two earlier this year but the short version is: Arnold has talked smack on Starocci before, and Starocci has responded.
More recently, Arnold predicted Iowa would beat Penn State in this year’s dual meet in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Not only did Iowa not beat Penn State wrestling, Arnold didn’t get to wrestle Starocci. True freshman AJ Ferrari went at 184, and Arnold didn’t seem too happy about it.
Some things have to happen, but it’s quite possible that Starocci-Arnold will finally take place this weekend in Evanston.
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Photo by Iowa Athletics: Gabe Arnold
So what has to happen for Arnold and Starocci to meet at Big Tens? Well, the two simply have to make it to the semifinals. Starocci is the obvious No. 1 seed, having won the last four NCAA titles. Arnold, a redshirt freshman, is more of an upstart. He went 12-2 over the regular season and is currently ranked No. 8. As exciting as Arnold-Starocci could be, some wrestling fans would rather Iowa send somebody else out at 184.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER GUY?
No. 1 ranked Carter Starocci takes on Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari.
Plenty of wrestling fans would have rather Iowa coach Tom Brands had sent out Ferrari at 184. Perhaps Starocci would, too.
When Brands upset Oklahoma State’s Dustin Plott, ranked No. 3, in sudden victory Feb. 23, Starocci almost immediately took to social media.
Start the kid 😋🍽️
— Carter Starocci (@carterstarocci) February 24, 2025
But since Starocci will be out of eligibility following the NCAA Championships later this month, it doesn’t look like he’ll get to wrestle Ferrari again. Starocci won the first bout, 3-1.
This year’s Big Ten championships are scheduled for March 8-9 in Evanston, Illinois.
