Carter Starocci

Carter Alphonse Starocci (born February 8, 2001) is an American freestyle and former folkstyle wrestler who competes at 184 pounds. In freestyle, he was a U23 World bronze medalist in 2022.

In folkstyle, Starocci is the only five-time NCAA Division I National champion in history, and was a three-time Big Ten Conference champion out of the Pennsylvania State University.

Career

High school Starocci was born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he started wrestling at the age of three. Raised Catholic, he attended Cathedral Preparatory School. During his high school years, Starocci became a two-time PIAA Class AAA state champion and four-time state placer. In freestyle, he placed at multiple national tournaments and was a Fargo National champion as well as in Greco-Roman. 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.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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. He was eliminated after losing back-to-back matches to U23 World champion Bo Nickal and NCAA champion Myles Martin.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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. He closed up the year at 24–0, with five victories over All-Americans.

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.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

2024–2025 Starocci was given an extra year of eligibility as an athlete who competed during the COVID-affected 2020-21 season. He won the Big Ten Tournament in March and was named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. He would go onto win the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships later in March, becoming the first ever five-time NCAA Division I National champion.

Freestyle record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location Loss 17-9

State College, Pennsylvania

Win 17–8

Newark, New Jersey Loss 16–8

Louisville, Kentucky Win 16–7

Loss

State College, Pennsylvania Loss 15–7

Win 15–6

Loss

Loss 14–6

Win 14–5

Win 13–5

Win 12–5

Win 11–5

Loss 10–5

Win 10–4

Win 9–4

Win 8–4

Win

Win 7–4

Win 6–4

Win 5–4

Loss 4–4

Win 4–3

Win

Win 3–3

Win 2–3

Win 1–3

Loss 0–3

Loss 0–2

Loss 0–1