PHILADELPHIA– Carter Starocci came into Philadelphia this week having to win five matches to capture his unprecedented fifth national title.
After Thursday, he only needs three.
In the afternoon, Starocci tech-falled Lehigh’s Caden Rogers 18-2 to get his first win over the tournament and 100th overall at Penn State.
In the evening, he shut out Rutgers’ Shane Cartagena-Walsh, 15-0, putting himself three wins away from the prize and also giving him another record.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Starocci is now 22-0 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, meaning he’s all alone at the top of the list for tournament wins in school history. Ed Ruth, another Penn State legend, was 22-1.
Next up is a guy Starocci knows well: No. 8 Jaxon Smith of Maryland.
Starocci is 2-0 against Smith this season, with a 20-3 tech fall in the regular season and a 12-2 major decision at the Big Ten Championships earlier this month.
