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Penn State star Carter Starocci is the first five-time champ in NCAA Wrestling history

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•03/22/25•

GregPickel

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(Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics via Twitter)

PHILADELPHIA — Penn State graduate senior Carter Starocci is the first five-time individual champion in NCAA wrestling history. After finishing first at 174 pounds four years in a row, the Erie, Pa., native used the extra year of eligibility granted to all athletes in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic to return for a fifth and final season. He bumped up to 184 pounds and took out all challengers, finishing with a 4-3 triumph over second-seed Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa. Starocci finishes his final college season with a perfect 26-0 record.

“For me it means nothing,” Starocci said Friday night when asked what a fifth title would mean. “It’s here tomorrow, then it’s gone the next day, and then it’s about the next group and the next group. Last year the build-up was, hey, it’ll be the first time in Penn State history, one of the greatest programs ever across all sports. And something that Coach Cael not only preaches to me, but also to I think his own kids and our team, is that all this stuff is cool and important, but when you look at it in a huge lens, 50 years from now, oh, like, am I that guy? I remember one time I was a five-time national champ. Oh, cool, but what are you doing now today?

“It’s just something that comes along. And I’m not going to downplay the opportunity, obviously I’m here doing it so it obviously means a lot to me. But for the five-time national champ itself, to me it has no meaning. You can take the Penn State wrestling championship logo away, take the name away, take you guys away, put whoever is in front of me, and I’m ready to go. And for me, that’s why I do it.”

Penn State breaks the team scoring record

Starocci’s win also brought with it another triumph. The four points he earned in the team race by winning the title give the Nittany Lions 173 overall with two finalists left to wrestle. That number breaks the record 172.5 the team scored to break Iowa’s record from 1997 at last year’s national tournament. Penn State can add to its total with championships from Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 pounds and Josh Barr at 197 pounds. Both wrestle later tonight on ESPN.

Full Nittany Lion placings so far

Here’s the rundown:

125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl: Third

133 pounds: No. 8 Braeden Davis: Fifth

141 pounds: No. 2 Beau Bartlett: Third

149 pounds: No. 3 Shayne Van Ness: Third

157 pounds: No. 1 Tyler Kasak: Third

165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbribk: First OR Second

174 pounds: No. 2 Levi Haines: Third

184 pounds: No. 1 Carter Starocci: First

197 pounds: No. 4 Josh Barr: First OR Second

285 pounds: No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet: Sixth

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