Winning is everything, but sometimes, even victory doesn’t sit right with everyone. Carter Starocci just secured yet another dominant win, but wrestling fans aren’t exactly celebrating. Instead, they’re dragging him for his age, his competition, and even how the match ended. The debate? Whether his continued eligibility is an unfair advantage or just part of the game.

Facing No. 12 of Illinois, Edmond Ruth on February 17, Starocci wasted no time establishing control. He opened with an early takedown and quickly racked up points. By the end of the first period, he led 7-1, suffocating Ruth with pressure. He kept pushing, forcing multiple stall calls, and when Ruth hit his sixth and final stalling violation at the 6:43 mark, the match was called. Starocci officially won by disqualification while leading 17-4.

Right after, B1g Wrestling posted on Instagram: “Starocci’s latest dub sealed some things #b1gwrestling.” This match marked a milestone for Carter Starocci: his 95th win, very close to completing a century. But not everyone was celebrating. Instead, the comment section exploded with criticism, questioning whether Starocci dominating a younger competition is fair play.

For the record, Carter Starocci is 24 and using his final year of NCAA eligibility. Due to the extra COVID year, he’s still competing, making a run for his historic fifth national title. Edmond Ruth, his opponent, is just 22. The age gap isn’t massive, but fired-up fans say Starocci’s extra experience gives him an unfair advantage. So, is this legit criticism or just salty fans?

Fans jump in with a range of opinions

One fan said, “The crazy thing is, he was probably 9 years old getting beat on by his 3x Champ older brother, & this is equally as brutal.” Edmond Ruth’s older brother, Edward Ruth, was a 3x NCAA Champion at Penn State and is now in his second year as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois. Growing up, wrestling him definitely built that relentless mindset, as Edmond Ruth has surely been sharpening his skills since childhood, training against elite-level competition. Ruth also has his own impressive achievements in the 174-pound category: a 2024 All-American, 2024 Big Ten Champion, and First-Team All-Big Ten. But the way this match unfolded, and with how fans said this match looked like an older brother bullying his younger sibling, they aren’t exactly wrong.

Another fan jumped in with, “Ruth didn’t even put up a fight.” That’s because Starocci didn’t let him. From the first whistle, Carter controlled the pace, taking Ruth down almost immediately. By the second period, it was clear that Ruth had no answers. Starocci was relentless, building his lead and forcing Ruth into stalling calls. By the time they called the DQ, Starocci was ahead by 13 points, proving just how dominant he was.

“Ruth looks little compared to Carter,” adds another fan. Carter Starocci and Edmond Ruth aren’t worlds apart in age, but size-wise, Carter’s years of elite training have clearly added to his physicality. Despite the criticism, this is still a Division 1, Big Ten matchup—every athlete at this level is expected to handle high-level competition. Ruth, despite any perceived size disadvantage, has earned his place as a redshirt senior competing for the Fighting Illini, with numerous accolades to his name, including being a Midlands Champion and a team leader in win percentage with 86.7% for the 2023-24 season.

However, some fans were critical, saying, “Yea- a 25-year-old wrestling kids. Let’s be real here. It’s a joke.” Fans are fuming about the age gap, but let’s be real—Starocci isn’t even 25 yet, and he’s still well within the eligibility window. The NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19, so he’s just taking advantage of the same rule other college athletes also benefit from.

All in all, love him or hate him, Carter Starocci is still on track to make history. Even if it might seem unfair that he’s back with a 5th year of eligibility. But whether fans agree with his continued eligibility or not, he’s just playing the game by the rules—and winning while he’s at it.