Penn State wrestling: Carter Starocci makes surprising change for U.S. Olympic Team Trials

Carter Starocci made history in March, becoming the first four-time National Champion in Penn State wrestling history. This week, the Nittany Lions star will turn his attention to the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center, with the hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. But the wrestling community got some unexpected news with the release of the official seeding for the trials on Monday, learning that Starocci will be bumping up to 86 kg instead of his traditional 74 kg. The move only adds another layer of drama to the Nittany Lion’s ongoing rivalry with ex-Nebraska star Jordan Burroughs.

Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci bumps to 86 kg for Olympic Team Trials

When the Olympic Team Trials brackets were announced on Monday, many were shocked to find that Carter Starocci had bumped up a weight class to 86 kg.

This is a bit of a surprise, because it means that Starocci will have to ultimately go through Gold Medalist and Penn State wrestling legend David Taylor in the finals of the Olympic Team Trials. That is, if Starocci gets through a gauntlet of a challenger bracket with four other Nittany Lions, including teammate Aaron Brooks.

But given the injury that Carter Starocci has been battling since the end of the regular season, it makes sense why he would choose to bump up. Starocci has always seemed to be on the larger side of 174 pounds, so cutting close to 10 pounds while recovering from a significant leg injury would be a tall task, even for a four-time champion.

Comments from Jordan Burroughs spark criticism at the NCAA Championships

A two-time National Champion for Nebraska, Jordan Burroughs has had incredible success at the international level. The former Cornhusker is a six-time World Champion and took home Olympic Gold in 2012.

While on the ESPN broadcast during the NCAA Championships, Burroughs mentioned that it would be a strategic advantage for opponents to go over the injuried leg of Carter Starocci. This sent the wrestling world into a tailspin, even sending former Nittany Lions like Bo Nickal into a social media battle with Burroughs.

Carter Starocci responded, telling Jordan Burroughs that he would end his career at the Olympic Team Trials. It was expected that Starocci would be dropping weight to wrestle at 74 kg against the former Cornhusker.

Ex-Cornhusker responds to Starocci’s weight change

With the news Carter Starocci and Jordan Burroughs would not be facing off in State College this weekend, the former Nebraska star quickly took to social media to offer his two cents.

“Gonna be hard to end my career up there, champ,” Burroughs responded in the FloWrestling comments after the Olympic Team Trials seeding was released. Of course, the Penn State wrestling star fired back, saying, “Just don’t leave your shoes on the mat this weekend, and we can get it poppin no problem.”

Starocci is referring to the tradition of wrestlers leaving their shoes on the mat when they retire from the sport. Rumors that this may be Burroughs’ last go-around have picked up steam in the last few months, and it is part of the reason why Starocci originally said he was going to end his career.

Carter Starocci earned the No. 6 seed and will take on No. 11 Patrick Downey in the first round of the challenger tournament at the trials. Jordan Burroughs is the No. 1 seed in the challenger bracket and will face the winner of Penn State’s No. 9 Alex Facundo and No. 8 Alex Marinelli. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials will take place April 19-20 and will be broadcast on Peacock and USA Network.

Make sure to follow along with Basic Blues Nation here and on our social media channels for live on-site coverage of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

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