Penn State wrestling: Carter Starocci on knee injury, he and Aaron Brooks talk chance to make history Saturday night

It’s championship Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. Penn State will send six wrestlers to the mat during the NCAA Finals, which start tonight at 7 p.m. ET inside of the T-Mobile Center. The Nittany Lions have already clinched the team title for the third year in a row, which moves head coach Cael Sanderson into the No. 2 spot all-time with 11 tournament titles. Now, they’re chasing history. And plenty of it is up for grabs.

When Braeden Davis and Aaron Nagao were eliminated from the tournament on Friday, it meant that head coach Cael Sanderson’s team could not become the second team ever to have 10 All-Americans. However, here is the rather lengthy list of what it can still be remembered before besides its already epic regular season, Big Ten tournament, and work at nationals so far:

–Senior Carter Starocci (174 pounds) and graduate senior Aaron Brooks (197 pounds) could become just the sixth and seventh wrestlers in the sport’s lengthy history to win four NCAA titles. The only five people currently in that exclusive club are Cornell’s Kyle Dake and Yianni Diakomihalis, Sanderson (who accomplished it at Iowa State), Ohio State’s Logan Stieber, and Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith.

–Penn State is one of just two teams (the other is Iowa) that have crowned five national champions in one year twice. With six finalists (Beau Bartlett at 141, Levi Haines at 157, Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165, Starocci at 174, Brooks at 197, and Greg Kervliet at heavyweight) the Lions could become the first team to ever have five champs in a single year three times and/or the first ever to have six.

–Iowa holds the all-time tournament team point record with 170. The record has stood since 1997. Penn State will take aim at it this year.

More: How can Penn State wrestling break the all-time NCAA scoring record? Setting the stage for championship Saturday

Much of the fan focus will be on the team’s chance to break the Hawkeyes’ record. But don’t forget about what Starocci and Brooks can accomplish. A four- and five-time All-American, respectively, they can each etch their place among the sport’s greats by winning tonight. Starocci faces No. 6 Rocco Welsh of Ohio State, while Brooks battles No. 2 Trent Hidlay of N.C. State.

“It’s one of those numbers where like every single day you wake up on Monday, Tuesday, you kind of envision yourself making history every single day,” Starocci said. “So when you are actually living it, it’s as if it’s not so real. Because when you’re in your bed and you’re thinking about it, it almost feels so real and when you are out there it goes by so fast and your teammates, you’re cheering for them.

“So it’s a lot more going on when you’re actually living the experience and in terms of staying focused, history comes and goes. And it’s something that when I go out there and it’s tomorrow night and I win and it’s cool everyone is screaming your name and a month later it’s Olympic Trials and it kind of fades as time goes on. So you can’t let the sport be bigger than it is.”

Starocci also touched on how he has won three matches while wrestling with an injured right knee. He is wearing a sleeve that is covering up some kind of protective equipment. The Penn State star has not had the same aggression as he usually does. But, he’s found a way to win three times and must do so one more time tonight.

More: Recap: Penn State has nearly perfect Friday night at NCAA Championships, sends six to finals

“It’s definitely an adjustment for sure,” Starocci said. “It’s an adjustment that when you walk out there, and you’re like, ‘wow, this is different,’ just because when you’re at practice, guys are helping you out and things like that. But there’s tactics and things like that, but at the end of the day, who wants it more, you know?

“So you’ve got to be able to protect yourself out there and get to your offense. I think it’s — it’s the same, but it’s different, like you said. But when I’m out there, I really couldn’t care less about my knee. I chose to wrestle. So if it stays in Kansas City it stays here and you can always repair that, so that’s the mindset going in.”

As for Brooks, his focus is on his process and not the chance to make history. But, he knows what awaits him on Saturday night should he win.

“I think you just don’t really think about it,” Brooks said. “You don’t let things consume you. Like the world want to consume you; labels, titles, accomplishments. When you’re not defined by that stuff and you’re not chasing that, it sets you free once again. I’m here to serve the Kingdom, not this world. So it sets me free.

“Once again, it is a battle, right? Because it’s constantly being pushed in your face on social media. It’s always someone trying to remind you what you’re doing, but it’s like, hey, I’m just blessed to be doing this.”