Penn State wrestling, widely regarded as the most dominant program in college sports, is gearing up for its run at a 12th national title in just 14 years. The team recently released its schedule, starting with the NWCA All-Star Classic on November 16 at Rec Hall. However, the biggest buzz surrounds Carter Starocci’s shot at making history. He’s aiming to become the first-ever five-time NCAA champion, likely moving up to the 184-pound weight class, which adds an extra layer of difficulty. But the path won’t be easy for him.

After missing the Paris Olympics and being sidelined from the Big Ten Championships due to injury, Starocci is back at Penn State for his final season, with the stakes higher than ever. The most anticipated matchup? Starocci vs. Parker Keckeisen—a bout that’s already generating significant buzz in the wrestling world.

While exhibition matches typically lack the same level of excitement as regular season bouts or championships, this one feels different. It’s set to showcase the rivalry between the Penn State Nittany Lions Wrestling Club and the Northern Iowa Panthers. After all, Carter Starocci isn’t just any wrestler—he’s a bronze medalist from the 2022 Under-23 World Wrestling Championships and a dominant force in NCAA Division I. The 23-year-old has won four consecutive titles in the 174-pound category, starting with his first gold in St. Louis in 2021 and continuing his streak through Kansas City in 2024.

On the flip side, Parker Keckeisen has been making waves of his own, capturing the NCAA Division I championship in the 184-pound category this year. The reigning champion and four-time defending Big 12 champion has built an impressive résumé, finishing third at the NCAA Championships in both 2021 and 2022, and reaching the finals in Tulsa in 2023. Last season, he also went 28-0 with a 90.32% bonus rate. However, currently, he’s ranked 2 behind Starocci. And now, he’s poised to challenge the reigning champ once again, where the duo will go headline the NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) All Star-Classic 2024 on November 16.

While Keckeisen is not be underestimated, keep in mind that Starocci is already a wrestling legend, having secured four consecutive NCAA titles from 2021 to 2024. But that doesn’t mean the young wrestler is letting himself slack! Recently, he expressed his excitement for the upcoming season by revealing a hard truth on X that perfectly encapsulated his winning mentality: “5.5 weeks. The more you win, the more you should work harder.”

Despite his confidence, the path ahead won’t be easy. Moving up to a tougher weight class, he faces intense competition, which could lead to potential embarrassment if things don’t go his way. Still, he’s already started harboring even bigger dreams…

Carter Starocci issues bold challenge to A.J. Ferrari

In September of this year, Carter Starocci caused a stir by challenging A.J Ferrari to a 190-pound match, with an impressive prize purse of $300 000. Starocci is highly motivated and determined to achieve his objectives for the approaching season. Following his disappointment in not making it to the U.S Olympic wrestling squad for the Paris Games, he has been fully committed to his training and recuperation efforts in order to reaffirm his superiority in the sport.

Starocci didn’t hold back in his challenge to Ferrari. He added some fun stakes to the match, saying that if he wins, Ferrari has to get a tattoo that reads “Starocci is my NATTY DADDY” on his chest or change his Instagram bio to “Sorry girls, please forgive me! I have changed 190lbs.”

He emphasized how serious he is about this showdown, saying, “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.” 

This comes months after Ferrari took to TikTok to throw a challenge at both Starocci and his upcoming opponent.”I’m on a mission…” he wrote on the first slide of his post in April. The message continued in the next slide which accompanying Starroci and Keckeisen’s pictures with the words: “To destroy a certain someone”.

With the All-Star Classic taking place at Penn State this year, Starocci is ready to show off his skills and make a statement in the wrestling world.