When it comes to Carter Starocci, fans can never expect a moment of peace that involves the wrestler’s next step. After taking an unexpected loss at the hands of Trent Hidlay at the Olympic Team Trials in April, Starocci announced his return to Penn State to build a legacy worthy of the history books. However, it looks like other combat sports aren’t off limits for the four-time national champ to try his hands on, either.

The Penn State wrestling program has produced some electrifying stars over the years. Many of them have found success in other domains after their time with the NLWC as well. And now, Starocci might be taking a similar path despite the allure of becoming the first wrestler ever to bag five NCAA individual titles.

A recent Instagram post by Bo Nickal, a fellow Penn State alum and formidable collegiate wrestler, showed Starocci in the most unexpected settings. “Totally normal week of practice nothing to see here,” reads the caption of the post, in a deliberate attempt to throw fans off-guard once they actually notice who Nickal’s sparring partner is. Draped in blue, Starocci can be seen training alongside the Penn State alum at the American Top Team MMA gym, which Bo established at Pleasant Gap in 2021.

Things get even more interesting as in another picture, the four-time NCAA champ Aaron Brooks can also be spotted standing beside Nickal, displaying a broad grin on his face. The American Top Team has also been heavily involved in helping Starocci secure a promising NIL (name, image, likeness) deal last month. It’s not surprising to see that Carter is also interested in exploring all the possibilities they have to offer.

While many fans would be enthralled by the prospect of seeing Starocci making his MMA debut in the coming days, others would find it more appealing should Carter decide to make his final year eligibility one to remember.

Carter Starocci’s heightened responsibilities for his final year

The country’s collegiate wrestling circuit has experienced significant upheaval in recent months, particularly following the Olympic team trials. In addition to Starocci, another Penn State alum unexpectedly bowed out of contention for Paris in a surprising turn of events. Following his loss, Olympic gold medalist David Taylor announced his decision to take on the head coach position at OSU, a move that didn’t sit well with Starocci and the rest of the NLWC locker room. On the other hand, the reigning NCAA champ made it clear that his final year with Penn State will see him going all out in hopes of creating a legacy that will serve as the benchmark for everyone to follow for the foreseeable future.

However, only a couple of days ago, former national champ Jason Nolf, another Penn State star, revealed his intentions of giving MMA a go in an interview with Bo Nickal. While Nolf’s MMA debut is imminent, Starocci’s latest activities might rouse some serious questions among his fans as well.

Now that the possibility of Starocci becoming the first-ever collegiate wrestler to win five national titles seems dubious, it remains to be seen if his ambition to thwart Taylor and OSU’s high hopes emerges as the stronger desire.