Bleeding from an intense showdown and battling a knee injury, Carter Starocci proved why he’s one of wrestling’s all-time greats—but even champions admit mistakes. The Penn State wrestler injured his knee during the regular-season finale against Edinboro University on February 25, 2024. His relentless drive to overcome physical challenges highlights his unyielding pursuit of excellence, as seen in the recent match.

He entered an exhibition match at the NWCA All-Star Classic, and despite two tie-ups, he finally managed to earn the victory. Despite his monumental success, Starocci is far from complacent and not fully satisfied with his performance. What did he miss, and how did he plan to set it right?

Starocci’s determination for his future outing

The NWCA All-Star Classic wasn’t just a stage for Starocci to showcase his skills—it was also a critical learning moment. After competing in the 174-pound weight class for four years, the 23-year-old wrestled in the 184-pound category for the first time and gained a win over Parker Keckeisen by 4-1. He grabbed the victory with just 0:27 left on the timer, though he ended up with an injury on his face and blood flowing down his forehead. But still, he stands strong.

However, even after winning the match, the four-time NCAA champion still seems unsatisfied. Starocci focused on his inability to consistently score on the mat. Reflecting on his performance, “If that match happens again, just make sure I’m ready to put some more points on the board.” The battle between Starocci and Keckeisen lasted for three whole periods. But Starocci could only earn points at the end and not throughout the match as it was only at the end he took over, resulting in a tough fight between the two.

Starocci admitted that he controlled the bout but could have done much better. He said, “Obviously I felt like I controlled the match and things like that, but it’s all good. While talking about the prospect of a rematch against Keckeisen, Starocci said, “Obviously, you don’t want matches to go in overtime, but I mean, he’s a tough, strong kid, and he’s a guy that’s probably looking forward to the next match-up again if it happens.”

Starocci further added, “So that’s my job to make sure that I’m also ready. It’s not even about him or anything; it’s just about getting better and things like that. I’ll make sure that I take care of business every single time.” Let us see how the Penn State wrestler earned a hard-fought victory in his new weight category. 

Unsatisfied Starocci outshined Shayne Van Ness

For the 23-year-old, it was getting difficult to manage weight which often crept higher. So, he decided to compete in a higher weight category without worrying about the weight and only focus on skills. He even mentioned that in an interview earlier, even his coach Cael Sanderson agreed that managing Starocci’s weight is not easy. Hence, the Penn State wrestler fought in the 184-pound category and made a change.

He managed to win the NWCA All-Star match with a pang in the heart, to perform better. But amid this, Starocci still managed to overshadow his Penn State teammate, Shayne Van Ness who was making his return after a one-year layoff. Van Ness wrote down victory in his name with a major decision of 16-4 against Ty Watters. 

It is interesting to note that the duo returned to the mat after overcoming their injury battle. This was Starocci’s final year at NCAA wrestling, and he performed his heart out to win his bouts. One outshining the other, especially when belonging to the same state—which is quite painful. Even though Van Ness scored well in his bout, it was Starocci who took the ultimate victory of the night.

Fans and Starocci himself are looking forward to the rematch with Keckeisen, while also looking forward to what the future holds for Van Ness. Who is your favorite among the two? Do tell us in the comment section below!