Carter Starocci details what third national title for Penn State means to him

Carter Starocci won his third NCAA Wrestling national title in style with a pin versus Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola over the weekend. The Penn State 174-pounder hasn’t lost since the 2021 Big Ten Finals but each national title meant something different.

Starocci joined Shane Sparks on Big Ten Wrestling and Beyond and detailed what he went through during each national championship run and each had its adversity. Regardless, Starocci is now three-for-three with two years of eligibility left.

The Nittany Lion detailed his emotions through each of his titles.

“I think they’re all very special and memorable in their own way,” Starocci said of his titles. “I remember my first one, that felt really good, because it was a revenge match (against Iowa’s Michael Kemerer). So I feel like that will always have a special place in my heart. And then my second one, obviously, I had a broken hand and then in the Big Ten finals, my right hand got torn. So I had like, essentially no hands and that was like a very rough time.

“It was rough to get through that postseason. I wasn’t able to train at all or practice and it was kind of irritating. So that was a very long process and I always remember that one just through that emotional rollercoaster.”

But it was the third one that had a perfect ending to cap off a second straight perfect season.

“And then obviously this one, I mean, no better way to end,” Starocci said. “End with a fall. And they’re all great too. I just enjoyed the company with (my guys) at Penn State and being a three time national champ, which is the record and there’s not many three timers. But it’s something that I take with a grain of salt because it’s not my ultimate goal or anything like that, but I’m just grateful that our team won the title as well.”

Starocci is 61-2 in his career but despite three competitive seasons, has two years of eligibility left. His 2021 season did not count, as it didn’t for all athletes, due to the COVID-19 waiver.

Should he choose, Starocci could wrestle two more seasons and become the first five-time national champion in college wrestling history.

While it remains to be seen if he’d do the extra year, Starocci will almost certainly be back in 2023-24 to go for his fourth title alongside teammate Aaron Brooks (184), who also won his third title over the weekend.

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There are only five four-time national champions in college wrestling history. Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihilas became the latest in Tulsa this past weekend.