Penn State University’s Wrestling Team was worried about losing their star player ahead of the 2024 NCAA season. Many collegiate sports stars are on an exodus to elite careers, enticed by the chance of making the Olympic team. In the meantime, the MMA also wanted to steal the team’s ace with an offer that not many can refuse. However, this talented wrestler has displayed impeccable loyalty and decided to stay with his team for his final year of collegiate sports.

Carter Starocci has won three NCAA championships and is the stronghold of the Penn State Wrestling team. He won his last title in 2023 by pinning down Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola. Thereafter, he was offered the Olympic redshirt, which would have halted his collegiate career. But the Nittany Lions grappler turned it down in order to etch his name into the collegiate wrestling history books.

Wrestling ace Carter Starocci’s quest for immortality

No athlete in the history of Penn State University’s wrestling has won the NCAA championships four times. Carter Starocci has already won three NCAA titles and stands on the brink of history, ready for the plunge. Therefore, he decided to prioritize his college sporting career one last time before heeding the call of the professional wrestling world.

Twitter user and sports commentator Justin Basch wrote an X post announcing, “One more year! 3x NCAA Champ @carterstarocci with @pennstateWREST has announced & confirmed he will be competing this season for his 4th & Final Year of college wrestling”. This news was welcomed by the University, which was apprehensive about losing its biggest star athlete to the glamor of professional wrestling While Carter Starocci did not accept the Olympic redshirt, he has not given up on his gold medal dreams.

In a remarkable yet mindboggling decision, the 22-year-old will pursue both the NCAA champion title and the Olympic gold medal in 2024. In this regard, he said, “This is a monumental moment for me myself, Penn State and my family…So I’ll make sure I take care of business and at the end of the year get that fourth natty daddy and the Olympic title”. Starocci is girded to wrestle for his place in the Olympic team at the trials. The trials will take place in August at the Bryce Jordan Center. After the 2023 NCAA Championships, there was much speculation about his next move, but his victory speech already foreshadowed this decision.

Carter Starocci prioritizes his team over individual glory

Carter Starocci has a peculiarly strong bond with his Nittany Lions teammates. During his time on the podium at the 2023 NCAA Championship, he said, “I love those guys with all my heart, and they’ve helped make me the man I am. And I’m just grateful to be in that community”. When the chance arose to prove his love and loyalty to them, he did not miss it.

This young wrestling champ is the sixth three-time NCAA title holder for Penn State University. If he can earn another in 2024, Carter Starocci will make history as the University’s first four-time NCAA champion.

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The last time Penn State University found a lion worth its roar was when Aaron Brooks joined their wrestling team. Brooks won the 86 kg world title at the United World Wrestling U23 this year. He is on the road to Paris 2024, and trailing him is another athlete from his alma mater. Will Starocci be able to catch up to his peers and earn a place beside him on the US Olympic team?

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