Carter Starocci will be aiming for the unimaginable this year. Having had a stellar NCAA career so far, Starocci has won four consecutive NCAA championships. While this is an incredible achievement in itself, he is setting his sights even higher. Returning for his fifth NCAA season, thanks to the extra year granted due to COVID, Starocci is looking to secure a fifth consecutive championship. No wrestler has ever achieved this feat, and if the 23-year-old manages to pull it off, it would be nothing short of an NCAA miracle.

However, the 4x NCAA champion’s road to a fifth potential title won’t be smooth. Standing in his way is AJ Ferrari, another accomplished NCAA wrestler who would love to spoil Starocci’s party and extend his own winning streak. Yet, before Ferrari, Starocci faces another challenge: Parker Keckeisen. Having already lost to Keckeisen once, the 23-year-old will be eager to settle the score when they meet in the NCAA. But first, the two will face off at the NWCA All-Star Classic.

Peter Keckeisen heaps praises on Carter Starocci

Carter Starocci and Parker Keckeisen will reignite their old rivalry at the NWCA All-Star Classic on November 16. On the surface, this will be an interesting matchup, with both wrestlers trying to overpower each other on the mat. However, a deeper look reveals some important factors. Starocci’s encounter with Keckeisen will give the 4x NCAA champion a chance to assess Keckeisen’s strength and power, potentially giving him an advantage when they face off again at the NCAA Championships.

As a result, many have been questioning why Keckeisen agreed to the match. In a recent interview with Allyson Schwab, Keckeisen addressed the same question. His response won over fans. Keckeisen began by praising Carter Starocci, calling him a ‘really good opponent.’ He went on to describe Starocci as one of the best collegiate wrestlers ever and said that the opportunity to size him up was something he simply couldn’t pass up.

Trying to take the positives from the game, Keckeisen stated, “So, just an opportunity to have two great competitors to go at it, and just see where, well, win or lose, there’s going to be areas where you can learn from.” He also mentioned that wrestling against Starocci would be a boon in disguise for him as well. After all, Keckeisen can also improve himself after having a good look at Starocci’s highs and lows. 

As a matter of fact, it will be Starocci who will have his task cut out against Keckeisen. The duo crossed paths previously back in 2018. Facing off at the Fargo Championship, Starocci struggled to beat Parker Keckeisen. In fact, showing impeccable grappling prowess, it was Keckeisen who emerged victorious 9-6 after a grueling fight at the 170lbs category.  And amidst all the hype around this game, the chief focus still remains on AJ Ferrari. 

Carter Starocci vs AJ Ferrari will be a barnburner

AJ Ferrari initially ignited the sparks of rivalry calling Starocci a ‘certain someone’. In a social media upload, Ferrari stated that he is on a mission to destroy Starocci. Such a statement didn’t sit well with Starocci, who quickly fired back with his own words of dominance. In September, Starocci had already issued a bold challenge to Ferrari for a 190 lbs match with a massive $300,000 purse on the line. He also added some unique stipulations to the bout if Ferrari were to lose.

In that case, Starocci asked Ferrari to tattoo “Starocci is my NATTY DADDY” on his chest. He also asked Ferrari to change his Instagram bio to “Sorry girls, please forgive me! I have changed 190lbs.” Shirking off the fun part, Starocci then went on to emphasize how serious he was about the matchup. The 4x NCAA champion wrote, “Let’s put it all on the line. Winner takes the entire match purse, and the loser goes back to talking sh*t on social media.” Thus, with several interesting matchups on the line for Carter Starocci, it remains to be seen how things pan out for him in the future.