Analyst doubts health of Penn State star Carter Starocci ahead of NCAA Championships

Penn State wrestling is days away from competition for a third straight national title at this week’s NCAA Championships. While the Nittany Lions could claim multiple historic feats in Kansas City this weekend, the story that has gripped the college wrestling world is the health of Carter Starocci. Both Starocci and Cael Sanderson have stated the 174-pound star will be ready to go for Nationals, but not everyone is so sure. This week, one national analyst claimed that there’s reason for concern for the Penn State wrestling star.

Is there reason to be worried about the health of Carter Starocci?

The health of Carter Starocci has been the main storyline around Penn State wrestling for nearly a month. The three-time National Champion was forced to injury default at the Big Ten Championships after suffering a leg injury in the dual season finale on February 25.

The decision to medically forfeit in the conference tournament sparked some off-the-mat drama, leading some to question if Carter Starocci would be both healthy and willing to compete for the Nittany Lions at the NCAA Championships. But last week, Starocci and Cael Sanderson expressed that the right call was made in College Park, and that the Penn State wrestling star would be “ready to go” at Nationals.

But some think there may be more than meets the eye. Breaking down the 174 weight class this week, FloWrestling Content Director Christian Pyles expressed that there may be reason to worry about Starocci’s health.

“NCAA coaches have told me, ‘C’mon, you know he’s healthy.’ PSU (Cael era) has had a guy not wrestle at B10’s exactly one time, and that wrestler didn’t participate at NCAAs,” Pyles wrote on social media. “I hope he’s 100%, but based on PSU’s track record, there’s reason for concern.”

Don’t cite Nolf. He wrestled and smashed two matches before FFT out. Shakur Rasheed FFT in finals. They haven’t done this much at all.

— Christian Pyles (@CPyles8) March 16, 2024

Pyles did not specifically speak to this quote in the video included with the post, although he did reference both Sanderson’s and Starocci’s comments last week.

He also did not cite the wrestler he was referring to with the comments. However, he clarified that he wasn’t talking about Jason Nolf or Shakur Rasheed, who both wrestled at the Big Ten Championships before injury defaulting out of the tournament. He could be referencing former Nittany Lion Nick Suriano, who missed the Big Ten and NCAA Championships in 2017 with an ankle injury.

For now, we’ll just have to take Carter Starocci at his word.

“I was ready to go [for the Big Tens],” he said last week. “For me, I’m fully healthy — I can do everything right now. I think me being a competitor, just being who I am and how I was brought up, I just want to take all those guys out and keep sending messages.”

The No. 9 seed at 174, Starocci will face No. 24 Andrew Sparks of Minnesota in the opening round of the NCAA Championships.

Penn State wrestling looking for history at the NCAA Championships

In addition to chasing another three-peat and an 11th National Championship under Cael Sanderson, it could be a historic weekend for Penn State wrestling in Kansas City.

The Nittany Lions have a chance to join the 2001 Minnesota Gophers as only the second team to ever have All-Americans at all 10 weight classes. Every Nittany Lion is seeded within the top 10 of their weight classes, with four claiming the top spot. The top eight finishers at each weight earn All-American status. While this may be the most attainable milestone, records for team points (170), NCAA finalists (six), and individual National Champions (five) could also be in play.

The NCAA Championships will begin on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPNU/ESPN+.

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