Philadelphiaโ Make no mistake, Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci was thrilled to become the first Division I wrestler ever to win five national championships.
But he wasnโt happy about being the first match of the night, not the last.
Many felt that Starocciโ competing at 184 poundsโ would end the night by competing against Northern Iowaโs Parker Keckeisen.
After all, Starocci was going for history and Keckeisenโ last yearโs national champ at 184โ is hardly a slouch. So it only seemed logical for Starocci-Keckeisen to go on last.
Instead, ESPN decided to have it go on first.
Many people were confused about this, and it turned out, Starocci was one of them.
WHAT CARTER SAID
โIโm not sure why ESPN elected for the 184-pound match to be the first one of the night,โ Starocci said. โI mean, you have a guy going for his fifth title. You have the reigning champ and I think whoever wins that match is the Hodge Trophy winner. Weโve been talking about it all year.โ
โFor whatever reason, ESPN or whateverโฆ it kind of makes me laugh and giggle. Just because some of the rules that wrestling has in place, itโs no surprise why wrestling isnโt mainstream.
Carter Starocci was not happy about being the first match on the card tonight instead of the last.
The Penn State wrestling legend who just became the first five-time champ feels itโs a sign that wrestling needs to do a better job of marketing. pic.twitter.com/3p2bFXP8u6
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) March 22, 2025
โASK YOURSELVES QUESTIONSโ
For Starocci, the reporters who cover Penn State wrestling and other schools should be the ones figuring out why the sport doesnโt help itself as much as it should.
โThatโs for (you guys) to figure it out,โ he said. โYou guys are the ones that have influence on that. So I think you guys have to look yourselves in the mirror and ask yourselves questions.โ
