Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci, coming off of injury, takes mat at NCAAs; how'd he do in round 1?
Update: Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci won his second round match 5-3 over Adam Kemp of Cal Poly to reach the quarterfinals. You can read more on that match by clicking here.
Original story:
Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci hurt his knee at the end of the dual meet season. However, as promised, the Nittany Lion took the mat and is competing at the NCAA Championships. The Nittany Lion senior and three-time national champion put all doubt about his health to rest when he stepped on the mat for an opening-round 174-pound matchup with No. 24 Andrew Sparks of Minnesota.
Starocci wore a sleeve covering a brace on his right knee. It was almost immediately put into peril when Sparks shot and got the Penn State wrestler’s knee in a very awkward position. Starocci wisely surrendered his position to give up a takedown, making Sparks the first wrestler to take him down this year. But, Starocci quickly escaped and then scored a takedown of his own to lead 4-3. He never trailed again, ultimately winning by decision, 12-6. He jogged off the mat, and all looked to be well with the knee. Did he wrestle a bit like he was protecting it? Perhaps. He also exuded only the effort he needed to to glide to a victory.
Starocci passes first test
Starocci now moves on to a second round matchup with No. 8 Adam Kemp of Cal Poly on Friday night. It will be another chance to test his knee. He continues to be on track for a quarterfinal date with top seed Mehki Lewis. The Hokie ascended to the No. 1 spot after Starocci was forced to forfeit twice for medical reasons due to the knee injury he suffered in the Edinboro match back in February. If the two meet, it will have a championship-level intensity, as earlier this year, it would have been fair to expect it to be a title bout.
“As far as I seed, I mean, I think this is more fun this way,” Starocci said when asked what recommendation he could give the seed selection committee members in the future when weighing a resume like his.
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“The committee, I mean, as far as that, to be honest, I really couldn’t care less. I’d rather wrestle everybody, honestly. I think they seeded it a little weird. But, again, it doesn’t really matter.”
More Penn State first round results
Blue-White Illustrated is tracking all of the action as the first round of the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships unfolds. You can also follow along live and chat with other Penn State wrestling fans on Blue-White Illustrated’s The Wrestling Room forum. Access it by clicking here for rolling updates. We’ll be back then tonight with complete second-round coverage.
