On December 22, the Penn State NLWC will enter three dual meets to face Binghamton, Arkansas-Little Rock, and Missouri. Before that, though, the top-seeded team will host the Wyoming Cowboys in the iconic Rec Hall. Then, in January, it’s time to kick off another Big Ten wrestling season. With all these matches lined up, there will be plenty of chances to watch Carter Starocci do his thing on the mat.

This season, the 23-year-old has a lot at stake. He’ll be settling into the 184-pound weight class and defending his NCAA title. But here’s the real kicker: if he claims another victory at the NCAA championships, he’ll make history as Penn State’s first-ever five-time national champion. No one—not even his coach, Cael Sanderson—has reached that milestone. So, can Carter pull it off? Well, Carter Starocci has no shortage of confidence. In fact, his confidence just got a major boost with his recent ranking, and it looks like he’s ready to take on the challenge with full force.

Carter Starocci clinches the top spot even before the season reaches full acceleration

In Shane Sparks’s list of top-24 wrestlers in the 2024 season, Carter Starocci took the top spot. He outranked his potential opponent, Parker Keckeisen, the defending NCAA champion in the 184-weight bracket. After all, Starocci handed him a thrashing defeat in the NWCA All-Star Classic exhibition match last month. That achievement surely acted on Sparks in allowing the PSU senior to the top spot. But things didn’t end with the list only. The award-winning wrestling raconteur reposted the list with a caption: “The storm that the weatherman couldn’t predict. Starocci is the toughest wrestler I have ever called. This Nittany Lion going for title #5!” That left a suitable place for Carter Starocci to enter the discussion. Meanwhile, the weatherman Joe Bastardi also dropped his view.

Later, Carter Starocci showed up in the comment section. He kept the discussion alive with his quirky reply, “You hear that Joe ! No weatherman [emoji] @BigJoeBastardi.” Being an avid watcher of wrestling, Joe couldn’t let the moment go unattended. Soon, he replied, “He’s wrong. I was one of the guys I thought you could be a five timer once Covid showed up. Just another guy climbing on the bandwagon after the storm was already raging.” That comment had loads of banter. How? 

Carter Starocci has earned a COVID-19 extended year at PSU, giving him the chance to compete for another NCAA season. This opportunity also led him to settle into the weight class that suits him best—184 pounds. And with a 97-4 record, he’s just a few wins away from joining the exclusive club of 100 wins at Penn State. But Carter’s not just focused on the numbers. After four seasons with the Penn State NLWC, this homegrown talent isn’t limiting himself to just wins and losses—he’s got bigger goals in mind.

The last collegiate season may ask for a lot of commitments 

In January and February next year, Penn State will face off against six Big Ten rivals, including Michigan State, Rutgers, Iowa, Michigan, Maryland, and Illinois. It’s going to be a tough stretch for Cael Sanderson’s squad, but the real test will come on February 16 against Illinois. Why? Because the Fighting Illini are bringing nine ranked wrestlers to the mat, including a highly anticipated showdown between Carter Starocci and Edmond Ruth. Ruth, the eighth seed, will be up against the top-ranked Starocci. But, as we all know, wrestling can be full of surprises—so can Carter handle the pressure?

No worries there. The two-time Big Ten champ has nothing to lose, and as he heads into his final collegiate season, he’s focused on more than just the wins and losses. Carter’s all about feeling his best, and that’s where his foolproof fitness routine comes into play. Last season, he battled through some serious knee issues, which caused problems at critical moments. But now?

He’s not even thinking about it. “I just really doing a lot more on the recovery side of things, have a big team of doctors now and things like that, so I mean I’ve honestly never felt ever felt better than this,” he says. It looks like Carter Starocci’s found the sweet spot, staying fit while enjoying the ride. Doesn’t that sound like the perfect approach for someone like him? What do you think?