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Carter Starocci defeats Parker Keckeisen for 3rd place at Final X, spot on Team USA

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko06/14/25nickkosko59
USATSI_25747447 (1)
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Carter Starocci and Parker Keckeisen just saw each other in a razor-thin match at the 2025 NCAA finals but ran it back at Final X. For the true third place spot, a final spot to be a Team USA member, Starocci defeated Keckeisen 4-3 in freestyle Saturday.

Starocci is coming off his 5th NCAA title, this time at 184 pounds, when he concluded his collegiate career at Penn State this season. Keckeisen, the 2024 NCAA champion and three-time finalist, also just wrapped up his college days at Northern Iowa.

Starocci pushed the pace early on with passivity points and step-outs. However, the end of the match was not without some intensity.

Keckeisen earned a step-out point to cut it to 4-3, his third of the match. But, the two side judges determined Starocci had a takedown, giving him a 6-2 lead initially. Keckeisen’s corner challenged the call and managed to win it, making it 4-3.

However, with 17 seconds left, Starocci managed to avoid a takedown from Keckeisen, clinching true third and a spot on the national team. Kyle Dake (NLWC) and Zahid Valencia (Cowboy RTC) will wrestle in the best-of-three series at 86 KG Saturday to determine the rep at the World Championships.

Staying home at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, Starocci is gunning for the 2028 Olympics in some sort of capacity. He won’t be at the World Championships in 2025, but he’ll have plenty of opportunities before Los Angeles.

“I think just a guy that always led by example, always showed up, no matter the day, if you’re hurt, injured, sad, no matter what, always putting your best foot forward,” Starocci said of what he wants his legacy to be, back in March. “That’s something I want the younger guys on the team to keep pushing for more and more and more and just keep that Penn State dynasty going.

“I’m not sure how much longer these coaches got, but I know Coach Cael pretty well. If there’s some kind of coaching record or record out there, you guys figure it out. I’m sure when he breaks that, he’ll be done.”