Penn State star Carter Starocci is the sixth four-time champion in NCAA history
Carter Starocci is the sixth four-time individual champion in NCAA history. The Penn State senior joins Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith, his head coach, Cael Sanderson (who accomplished it at Iowa State), Cornell’s Kyle Dake, Ohio State’s Logan Stieber, and Cornell’s Yianni Diakomihalis in that exclusive club after he beat Ohio State’s Rocco Welsh 2-0 in the 174-pound title bout at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Starocci took a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period after Welsh was first warned for and then called for stalling during the first three minutes of the match. He then took a 2-0 lead with an escape early in the second. And, that was the margin of victory.
“Everyone wants their hand raised on Saturday nights, but it starts on Monday mornings,” Starocci told ESPN. “That Olympic gold medal is what I want. That’s my focus. It’s all good here everyone yelling your name, but Monday, it’s back to work.”
Injury update
Starocci, who would not say if it was a torn ACL, was seeded ninth at this tournament after a knee injury suffered at the end of the dual meet season forced him to injury default twice at Big Tens, which hurt his win percentage and caused him to not qualify for his RPI ranking. Despite wrestling with a black sleeve covering some sort of protective equipment over his right knee, Starocci won three straight bouts by decision to make the finals, where he of course won.
“It was hard,” Starocci said. “Twelve days ago I was on crutches. I just had to wrestle. That man, [trainer] Dan Monthley, he’s a national champ. It’s a blessing to be at Penn State. These coaches, they’re super dedicated. Dan Monthley, I wouldn’t be walking if it wasn’t for him. He looked me in the eye and said it was going to be a long road. I just believed in him.
Penn State has eight All-Americans
Starocci is the third Nittany Lion champ of the evening. Greg Kerkvliet won at 285 pounds by beating Michigan’s Lucas Davison by major decision 13-3. Then, Levi Haines beat Arizona State’s Jacori Teemer 5-0 in the 157-pound final. PSU also has a runner-up as Beau Bartlett lost to Jesse Mendez of Ohio State 4-1 at 141.
The Nittany Lions have eight All-Americans. Besides Kerkvliet and the other finalists, freshman Tyler Kasak earned that status at 149 pounds, where he ultimately finished third. Graduate senior Bernie Truax did so while finishing fifth at 184 pounds. Only two Nittany Lions were eliminated before the top eight was established, as 125-pound freshman Braeden Davis and 133-pound redshirt sophomore Aaron Nagao lost in the Round of 12. Here is how each Nittany Lion has performed so far at nationals, courtesy of Penn State Athletics:
25: #1 Braeden Davis, Fr., Belleville, Mich./Dundee
Rd. 1: #33 Tristan Lujan, Michigan State – W, 8-1 dec.
Rd. 2: #17 Brett Ungar, Cornell – W, 2-1 dec.
Qtr: #8 Richard Figueroa, Arizona State – L, 2-3 dec.
Cn. 4: #5 Jore Volk, Wyoming – L, 1-4 (sv) dec
133: #10 Aaron Nagao, So., La Habra, Calif./Esperanza
Rd. 1: #23 Marlon Yarbrough, Virginia – L, 5-13 maj. dec.
Cn. 1: #26 Kade Moore, Missouri – W, 16-1 (TF; 5:00)
Consolation bracket. 2: #24 Julian Chlebove, Arizona State – W, 5-1 dec.
Cn. 3: #16 Nick Bouzakis, Ohio State – W, 3-0 dec.
Cn. 4: #3 Kai Orine, North Carolina State – L, 4-11 dec.
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141: #2 Beau Bartlett, Sr., Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.)
Rd. 1: #31 Kal Miller, Maryland – W, 6-1 dec.
Rd. 2: #15 Mitch Moore, Rutgers – WBF (5:49)
Qtr: #26 Vance Vombaur, Minnesota – WBF (6:48)
Semi: #6 Lachlan McNeil, North Carolina – W, 5-1 dec.
Finals: #1 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State – L, 4-1 dec.
149: #7 Tyler Kasak, Fr., Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic
Rd. 1: #26 Jaden Abas, Stanford – L, 2-4 dec.
Consolation bracket. 1: #23 Drew Roberts, Minnesota – W, 14-5 maj. dec.
Cn. 2: #9 Ethan Fernandez, Cornell – WBF (0:36)
Cn. 3: #17 Graham Rooks, Indiana – W, 13-1 maj. dec.
Consolation bracket 4: #3 Jackson Arrington, North Carolina State – W, 5-4 dec.
Cn. 5: #11 Quinn Kinner, Rider – W, 10-2 maj. dec.
Cn. Semi: #1 Ridge Lovett, Nebraska – W, 10-1 maj. dec.
3rd: #5 Ty Watters, West Virginia – W, 3-2 dec.
More: Penn State wrestler Tyler Kasak takes third while Bernie Truax grabs fifth at NCAAs
157: #1 Levi Haines, So., Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville —
Rd. 1: #32 Isaac Wilcox, Ohio State – W, 17-2 (TF; 7:00)
Rd. 2: #16 Teague Travis, Oklahoma State – W, 19-4 (TF; 6:41)
Qtr: #8 Peyton Robb, Nebraska – W, 8-0 maj. dec.
Semi: #12 Bryce Andonian, Virginia Tech – WBF (7:48; SV)
Finals: #2 Jacori Teemer, Arizona State – W, 5-0 dec.
165: #2 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Fr., Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead
Rd. 1: #31 Maxx Mayfield, Northwestern – W, 18-2 (TF; 5:32)
Rd. 2: #15 Brevin Cassella, Binghamton – W, 11-3 maj. dec.
Qtr: #10 Cameron Amine, Michigan – W, 6-1 dec.
Semi: #6 Mikey Caliendo, Iowa – W, 17-9 maj. dec.
Finals: #4 David Carr, Iowa State – L, 9-8 dec.
174: #9 Carter Starocci, Sr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep
Rd. 1: #24 Andrew Sparks, Minnesota – W, 12-6 dec.
Rd. 2: #8 Adam Kemp, Cal Poly – W, 5-3 dec.
Qtr: #1 Mekhi Lewis, Virginia Tech – W, 4-0 dec.
Semi: #4 Shane Griffith, Michigan – W, 2-0 dec.
Finals: #6 Rocco Welsh, Ohio State – tonight
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184: #6 Bernie Truax, Gr., Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista
Rd. 1: #27 Cameron Pine, Clarion – W, 18-3 (TF; 5:09)
Rd. 2: #11 Colton Hawks, Missouri – W, 4-2 dec.
Qtr: #3 Dustin Plott, Oklahoma State – L, 6-16 maj. dec.
Consolation bracket 4: #10 Dylan Fishback, North Carolina State – W, 5-0 dec.
Cn. 5: #7 Thomas Stewart Jr., Virginia Tech – W, 5-1 dec.
Cn. Semi: #4 Trey Munoz, Oregon State – LBF (2:29)
5th: #2 Isaiah Salazar, Minnesota – W, 12-0 maj. dec.
197: #1 Aaron Brooks, Sr+., Hagerstown, Pa./North Hagerstown
Rd. 1: #33 Evan Bates, Northwestern – W, 18-4 (TF; 5:24)
Rd. 2: #17 Joseph Novak, Wyoming – WBF (2:20)
Qtr: #8 Stephen Buchanan, Oklahoma – WBF (2:44)
Semi: #12 Rocky Elam, Missouri – W, 17-2 (TF; 5:45)
Finals: #2 Trent Hidlay, North Carolina State – tonight
285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet, Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley
Rd. 1: #32 Nick Willham, Indiana – W, 19-3 (TF; 5:16)
Rd. 2: #17 Grady Griess, Navy – W, 9-1 maj. dec.
Qtr: #9 Nick Feldman, Ohio State – W, 1-0 dec.
Semi: #4 Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State – W, 8-1 dec.
Finals: #10 Lucas Davison, Michigan – tonight
