Penn State Wrestling’s Carter Starocci Makes History With 5th National Title

For the first time in NCAA Division I history, a wrestler has won five national titles.

Newly minted five-time national champion Carter Starocci defeated Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa with a 4-3 decision Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to begin a new page in wrestling history, likely never touched again.

With the tournament now behind him, Starocci finished his career at Penn State with a record of 107-4 as a five-time All-American, three-time Big Ten champion and, of course, a five-time national champion.

Starocci, who made the most of the extra year of eligibility granted to all NCAA athletes during the COIVD pandemic, spoke to the media just moments after his history-making win, touching on his time as a Nittany Lion and how his Penn State coaches and teammates helped him prepare for his fifth title.

“I think that’s one of the blessings of going to Penn State University, you have so many high-level guys in the room that help give you almost every single look possible,” Starocci said. “And obviously, we have the greatest wrestler of all time and head coach Cael Sanderson… I think just having that alone already separates you, and then when you add in everything else, you just have to go out there and have the will to win.

“I think [Sanderson’s] message was right from the whistle, just get out there and get on him and let him know this match is yours. That’s just his philosophy, something big for him is just to go out there and have fun. I know I’m a five-time champ, but for me, it’s really just another match.”

While Starocci, who was named the championships Outstanding Wrestler, dominated plenty of headlines during the weekend, he pointed toward his soon-to-be alma mater after taking home one of two individual titles for the Nittany Lions, joining redshirt sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink.

“[I want to be remembered as] just a guy that always led by example and always showed up. No matter if you’re hurt, injured or sad, no matter what, you have to put your best foot forward,” Starocci said. “I want these younger guys on the team to keep pushing and wanting more, just to keep this Penn State dynasty going.”

An Erie native, Starocci also said it was important to him that he spent his entire wrestling career representing his home state.

“I’m from Pennsylvania, I go to Penn State, and it all ended in Pennsylvania. So that, for me, it’s really cool. It just means a lot, I love Pennsylvania, and it just couldn’t be more [fitting],” Starocci said.