Philadelphiaโย Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci has another notch on his beltโ most outstanding wrestler at this yearโs NCAA Championships.
Starocci, who became the first in history to win five national titles, was voted by the NCAA as the best, something heโs used to being.
It all started in front of a crowd that was only 25% field.
With things just starting to get back to semi-normal from COVID-19 in March 2021, Starocci, then a redshirt freshman, averaged his Big Ten Tournament loss to Iowaโs Michael Kemerer with his first national title win.
The next season, Starocciโ competing with a broken handโ beat Virginia Techโs Mekhi Lewis for his second title.
The only semi-normal title win for Starocci came in 2023 when he pinned Nebraskaโs Mikey Labriola to three peat. In 2024, Starocci had the title win that people might remember most.
Competing on a badly injured knee, Starocci beat two former national champsโ Lewis in the quarters and Michiganโs Shane Griffith in the semisโ before becoming the seventh wrestler to win four national titles by beating Ohio Stateโs Rocco Welsh in the finals.
Then, of course, he became the first to win five, beating Iowaโs Parker Keckeisen 4-3 and shaking hands with President Trump soon after.
For Starocci, being named Most Outstanding Wrestler was neat but what mattered most was Penn Stateโs team title.
Penn State, with a tournament record 177 points, ย took home its 12 national title in 14 season.
โI mean, itโs cool,โ Starocci told Nittany Sports Now exclusively afterward, โbut for me, itโs just our team winning. For me, thatโs the thing you earn. Thatโs important for me.โ
