Not one, not two, not three—nope, make it five. Carter Starocci made history and became the first wrestler in the history of the NCAA to be a five-time national champion. And he didn’t just win—he did it in front of a packed Wells Fargo Arena, with none less than President Donald Trump in attendance. His 4-3 victory over Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa wasn’t just another title—it was the defining moment of an already stacked Penn State dynasty. And talk about timing! His victory at 184 pounds was exactly the four points needed to break the Nittany Lions’ own NCAA team points record set a year ago.

It was the kind of match that legends are made of–an absolute battle against an undefeated reigning champ who had beaten him in a sudden victory in overtime in November. But when it came down to it, Carter Starocci was ready to shine in the clutch. A clutch takedown with 45 seconds left sealed the deal, and he held off Keckeisen’s late-game desperation to officially become one of the greatest to ever do it. But despite Starocci’s insane feat, the post-match buzz wasn’t all about him. Wrestling fans were left frustrated as Trump’s presence seemed to steal the show.

Spotlight on Carter Starocci’s post-win moment shifts elsewhere

Just as Starocci was soaking in his legendary moment, ESPN cut away from his in-match interview to focus on Trump instead. And let’s just say… the wrestling world was not having it. A popular X fan account, The Wrestling Nomad, wasn’t holding back after Carter Starocci’s historic fifth NCAA title win. He fired off, “God d— it Trump let Starocci finish!”—and honestly? The fans were right there with him.

Another fan wasn’t holding back, dropping, “For real, nobody big dawgs Carter!!”—and honestly? Facts. This man is not only a champion but a legend in college wrestling as a whole. It is time to crunch some numbers because his senior year of 2023-24 season was legendary. Carter went 17-2, and those two “losses”?

Yeah, they were precautionary injury defaults at the Big Ten Championships—moves that let him heal up, come back stronger, and still snag his fourth straight NCAA title two weeks later. And now? Go ahead and add one more to that list. He was 9-0 in dual meets, collected three pins, six techs, and a major, and he was a Hodge Trophy finalist. In case one needed a name to associate with dominance, then Carter Starocci would be the man. But this was just the tip of the iceberg!

Fans angered as Starocci gets overshadowed

One fan didn’t hold back, firing off on X, “@DonaldTrump The absolute worst time to walk out and steal attention from a young man who worked his whole life for that moment!” But wait a minute–other fans were not so slow to spread the blame to others, specifically ESPN. “People!! That was not Trump’s fault. ESPN is running that, not Trump. Trump does not care when he goes out there,” another chimed in. And Carter’s road to five titles wasn’t just about dominance—it was a battle against the odds. Flashback to 2021, Carter Starocci started his varsity journey with a defeat to Indiana’s DJ Washington.

But did he let that define him? Not a chance. He came back swinging, snatching his first national title by avenging his Big Ten finals loss to Iowa’s Michael Kemerer. And then? Undefeated seasons in 2022 and 2023, crushing Virginia Tech’s Mekhi Lewis and Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola to win two more NCAA championships. Just when it seemed like 2024 was following the same script, a knee injury threw a wrench in the works. He had to default twice at Big Tens, but when it really counted, he gutted it out and secured his fourth national title.

And then came the moment of truth—his shot at becoming the first DI wrestler ever to clinch five NCAA titles. Enter Parker Keckeisen, last year’s champ and a technical beast, ready to give Carter Starocci a run for his money. A legacy like no other. The buzz may have been interrupted. But nothing takes away from the fact that Carter Starocci just cemented his name in NCAA history.

The drama wasn’t just about Carter Starocci’s historic fifth NCAA title—it was about who stole the moment. Some fans were heated, saying Trump’s entrance snatched the spotlight. One fired off, “Worst time to walk out and steal attention from a young man who worked his whole life for that moment!” But others? They weren’t buying it. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure he had no clue Carter was being interviewed lol. Blame ESPN. That entrance was planned.” And then there were some questioning the NCAA itself, as to why Starocci’s moment was not preserved and rather ended abruptly.

And guess what? Carter himself had something to say about Trump even before the finals. Turns out, he’s a fan. “He came to nationals, I believe my sophomore year, and it was really cool. He’s obviously a big fan of combat sports. He’s at all the UFC events, so I think it’s good for our sport,” he said. Oh, and he didn’t stop there. Starocci even admitted he likes Trump’s energy, calling him a “big personality”, and yup, he was also seen clicking a picture with Trump post-win! Safe to say, while fans were in chaos, Carter was just out here making history—and keeping it real.