Carter Starocci

Last updated
Carter Starocci
Personal information
Full nameCarter Alphonse Starocci
Born (2001-02-08) February 8, 2001 (age 23)
Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
Sport Wrestling
Weight class174 lb (79 kg)
Event(s) Freestyle and Folkstyle
College team Penn State Nittany Lions
Club Nittany Lion Wrestling Club
Coached by Cael Sanderson
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the Flag of the United States.svg United States
U23 World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2022 Pontevedra 79 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Penn State Nittany Lions
NCAA Division I National Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2021 St. Louis 174 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Detroit 174 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Tulsa 174 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2024 Kansas City 174 lb
Big Ten Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2022 Lincoln 174 lb
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 College Park 174 lb
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2021 State College 174 lb

Carter Alphonse Starocci (born February 8, 2001) is an American freestyle and former folkstyle wrestler who competes at 174 pounds. [1] In freestyle, he was a U23 World bronze medalist in 2022. [2]

Contents

In folkstyle, Starocci became the sixth four-time NCAA Division I National champion in history, and was also a two-time Big Ten Conference champion out of the Pennsylvania State University. [3]

Career

High school

Starocci was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he started wrestling at the age of three, later on attending Cathedral Preparatory School. [4] During his high school years, Starocci became a two-time PIAA state champion and a four-time state placer. [5] In freestyle, he placed at multiple national tournaments and was a Fargo National champion as well as in Greco-Roman. [6] One of the top-recruits in the country, Starocci committed to wrestle for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and closed out his high school career at 172–10. [7]

Pennsylvania State University

2019–2020

Starocci wore a redshirt during his first year in college, racking up an unbeaten 19–0 record and titles from the Southern Scuffle, the Edinboro Open, the Patriot Open and the Clarion Open while wrestling unattached. [8]

2020–2021

Competing as a freshman, Starocci recorded a 6–1 mark in dual meets during regular season, with a lone loss to DJ Washington though a notable victory over All-American Logan Massa. [9] At the Big Ten Conference Championships, Starocci placed second, falling to Michael Kemerer from Iowa after defeating Nebraska's All-American Mikey Labriola to cruise to the finals. [10] Starocci, the third-seed, then became the NCAA Division I National champion with a series of back-to-back wins, and a rematch-victory over Kemerer in the finals to top it off. [11]

After the season, Starocci went up 13 pounds and competed at the US Olympic Team Trials at 86 kilograms, having qualified by becoming an NCAA champion a month before. [12] He was eliminated after losing back-to-back matches to U23 World champion Bo Nickal and NCAA champion Myles Martin. [13]

2021–2022

In September 2021, Starocci competed at the US World Team Trials at 79 kilograms, where after falling in the first round to US National champion Taylor Lujan, he racked up wins over the likes of teammate and three-time NCAA champion Jason Nolf and All-Americans Chance Marsteller and Evan Wick. [14]

Back to folkstyle, Starocci went 15–0 in dual meets as a sophomore, grabbed his first Big Ten Conference title and became a back-to-back NCAA Division I National champion with victories over fellow NCAA champion Mekhi Lewis, three-time All-American Hayden Hidlay and two-time All-American Michael Kemerer, closing out the year at 25–0. [15]

He then competed at the US World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in May, where after falling to US National runner-up Chance Marsteller in a rematch, Starocci defeated three straight opponents, including Dan Hodge Trophy winner Alex Dieringer and three-time All-American David McFadden, to place third. [16] A true-third match against fellow two-time NCAA champion Vincenzo Joseph was set to take place in June at Final X NYC, however, Joseph forfeited the match and Starocci earned a US National Team spot, which qualified him for the U23 World Championships. [17]

In October, Starocci became a U23 World bronze medalist, with wins over U20 World medalist Abdulvasi Balta and U23 European medalist Valentyn Babii though a close loss to Daulet Yergesh in the semi-finals. [2]

2022–2023

Back to folkstyle, Starocci went 16–0 in dual meets during regular season, claimed the Big Ten title and became a three-time 2023 NCAA Division I National champion. [18] He closed up the year at 24–0, with five victories over All-Americans. [19]

In April, Starocci reached the semi-finals of the US Open National Championships with a dominant win over four-time All-American Michael Kemerer, though was defeated by three-time NCAA champion Alex Dieringer in a rematch, and subsequently dropped out of the tournament to place sixth. [20]

2023–2024

A senior, Starocci came in the season looking to become the sixth four-time NCAA champion in history, and looked fit to do so after picking up nine dual meet victories and a Journeymen Classic title. [21] However, he suffered a knee injury right at the end of his last dual meet, and was forced to medical forfeit out of the Big Ten Championships, though earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament due to past accomplishments. [22] After two forfeits which counted as losses, Starocci, the ninth-seed, earned four straight victories, including two over past NCAA champions Mekhi Lewis and Shane Griffith, before cruising to the finals and defeating Rocco Welsh to become a four-time NCAA champion. [23]

Starocci then competed at the US Olympic Team Trials in April, where he was expected to cut down to 74 kilograms, though ended up going up to 86 kilograms. [24] After a win over US National champion Pat Downey, he was defeated by U23 World finalist Trent Hidlay, and later forfeited out of the tournament to end his run. [25]

Freestyle record

Senior Freestyle Matches
Res.RecordOpponentScoreDateEventLocation
2024 US Olympic Team Trials DNP at 86 kg
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Evan WickFFApril 19, 2024 2024 US Olympic Team Trials

Flag of the United States.svg State College, Pennsylvania

Loss15–7 Flag of the United States.svg Trent Hidlay4–6
Win15–6 Flag of the United States.svg Pat Downey 6–3
2023 US Open 6th at 79 kg
Loss Flag of the United States.svg Alex MarinelliFFApril 27, 20232023 US Open National Championships Flag of the United States.svg Las Vegas, Nevada
Loss14–6 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Dieringer 1–7
Win14–5 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Kemerer9–0
Win13–5 Flag of the United States.svg Jay NivisonTF 10–0
Win12–5 Flag of the United States.svg Sean HoustonTF 10–0
2022 U23 World Championships Bronze medal icon.svg at 79 kg
Win11–5 Flag of Ukraine.svg Valentyn BabiiTF 11–0October 21–22, 2022 2022 U23 World Championships Flag of Spain.svg Pontevedra, Spain
Loss10–5 Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Daulet Yergesh7–8
Win10–4 Flag of Turkey.svg Abdulvasi BaltaTF 11–0
Win9–4 Flag of Estonia.svg Erik ReinbokTF 10–0
Win8–4 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Oktay HasanTF 11–0
2022 US World Team Trials Bronze medal icon.svg at 79 kg
Win Flag of the United States.svg Vincenzo JosephFFJune 8, 20222022 Final X NYC Flag of the United States.svg New York City
Win7–4 Flag of the United States.svg David McFadden10–2May 21–22, 20222022 US World Team Trials Flag of the United States.svg Lincoln, Nebraska
Win6–4 Flag of the United States.svg Alex Dieringer 5–1
Win5–4 Flag of the United States.svg Brayden Thompson10–1
Loss4–4 Flag of the United States.svg Chance Marsteller4–5
2021 US World Team Trials Bronze medal icon.svg at 79 kg
Win4–3 Flag of the United States.svg Jason Nolf 4–3September 11–12, 2021 2021 US World Team Trials Flag of the United States.svg Lincoln, Nebraska
Win Flag of the United States.svg Isaiah Martinez FF
Win3–3 Flag of the United States.svg Evan Wick8–4
Win2–3 Flag of the United States.svg Chance Marsteller4–0
Win1–3 Flag of the United States.svg Branson Ashworth7–3
Loss0–3 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Lujan4–6
2020 US Olympic Team Trials DNP at 86 kg
Loss0–2 Flag of the United States.svg Myles Martin 2–5April 2, 2021 2020 US Olympic Team Trials Flag of the United States.svg Fort Worth, Texas
Loss0–1 Flag of the United States.svg Bo Nickal 1–6

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References

  1. ↑ "Carter Starocci – Wrestling". Penn State Athletics. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  2. 1 2 "Nittany Lion Wrestler Carter Starocci Wins Bronze at U23 Worlds". Penn State Athletics. 2022-10-22. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  3. ↑ "Starocci & Brooks become four-time NCAA DI champions, Carr wins his second, Penn State is team champ again". themat.com. 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  4. ↑ Pickel, Greg (2019-03-10). "Penn State commit Carter Starocci finishes prep career in style with second straight PIAA title". pennlive. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  5. ↑ Allen, Zach (2023-04-19). "How a 2-month isolation transformed Carter Starocci's wrestling career". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  6. ↑ Dudley, John. "Mental toughness drove Prep's Starocci to double win in Fargo". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  7. ↑ "Prep state champ Starocci commits to Penn State". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  8. ↑ "Carter Starocci Champ at 174 as Three True Freshmen Shine at Southern Scuffle". Penn State Athletics. 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  9. ↑ Tolson, Max (2021-01-30). "No. 3 Penn State Wrestling Wins Narrowly Over Indiana 24–15". Onward State. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  10. ↑ "Penn State's Carter Starocci advances to Big Ten title match Sunday". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  11. ↑ "Cathedral Prep graduate Carter Starocci of Penn State wins national title as freshman". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  12. ↑ "Cathedral Prep grad Starocci, David Carr, son of Nate Carr, to wrestle in Olympic Trials". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  13. ↑ "Carter Starocci, David Carr eliminated in U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  14. ↑ "Burroughs earns spot on U.S. world team for 8th time in freestyle". Connecticut Wrestling Online. 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  15. ↑ "Penn State's Carter Starocci repeats as NCAA wrestling champion at 174 pounds". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  16. ↑ "2022 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament". Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  17. ↑ "On Campus: Erie's Carter Starocci to wrestle for US in U23 World Championships". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  18. ↑ "Starocci and Brooks Win individual Titles for National Champion Wrestling Team". Penn State Athletics. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  19. ↑ Wogenrich, Mark (2023-03-19). "NCAA Wrestling: Penn State Crowns 2 Three-Time Champs". Sports Illustrated Penn State Nittany Lions News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  20. ↑ "Penn State Wrestling Shines at the 2023 U.S. Open". Penn State Athletics. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  21. ↑ Wogenrich, Mark (2024-03-18). "For Penn State Wrestling, Destiny Awaits at NCAA Championships". Sports Illustrated Penn State Nittany Lions News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  22. ↑ Carlson, Jim (2024-03-12). "Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci earns at-large bid to NCAAs; Nittany Lions to host Big Tens in 2026". pennlive. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  23. ↑ "Penn State's Carter Starocci, Aaron Brooks join exclusive club of 4-time NCAA wrestling champs". CBS Pittsburgh. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  24. ↑ "NCAA Session I Notes: 10 entries already qualified for Olympic Trials; can Fix win on fifth try?". themat.com. 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  25. ↑ Sports, Shane Thomas CNHI Pennsylvania (2024-04-23). "Penn State's Starocci speaks on his future after Olympic Trials". The Daily Item. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
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