Penn State wrestling: Cael Sanderson ‘optimistic’ injured three-time champ Carter Starocci can return for postseason

No. 1 Penn State wrestling dominated Edinboro 55-0 on Sunday at Rec Hall. It was the Nittany Lions’ 56th consecutive dual win and fourth straight undefeated season. But the celebratory afternoon took a sobering turn when three-time National Champion Carter Starocci went down with an injury near the end of his bout at 174. With the regular season at its end, Sunday’s events may jeopardize Starocci’s quest for a history-making fourth title. However, when speaking to the media after the match, Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson expressed optimism that his quick-healing star will have a chance to compete this postseason.

Starocci carried off with apparent lower leg injury

The Rec Hall crowd held its collective breath Sunday afternoon as Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci writhed in pain after awkwardly twisting his right leg near the end of his 22-5 tech fall win over Joey Arnold of Edinboro. Unable to put weight on the leg, the senior ripped off his headgear and waited for Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions coaching staff to help him off the mat and into the locker room.

“Well, he was just trying to get the pin, and so he kind of put his leg in a compromised position. And it just didn’t work out, instead of letting the guy kind of belly out there,” Sanderson said postdual of the sequence leading to the injury.

A prolonged absence could have significant consequences for both Carter Starocci and Penn State wrestling. While the Nittany Lions would likely still be heavy favorites to win the title without the three-time champion in the lineup, Cael Sanderson and his staff would obviously like to have their seasoned veteran compete.

Moreover, Starocci is on the verge of history this postseason, as he and Aaron Brooks are looking to become the first four-time National Champions in Penn State wrestling history.

Cael Sanderson “optimistic” Penn State wrestling star can return for postseason

Cael Sanderson was unable to provide much in the way of an update on Carter Starocci after the dual Sunday, noting that the senior was still being evaluated by the Penn State wrestling medical staff. However, with the Big Ten Championships two weeks away and the NCAAs not until late March, time is on the Nittany Lions’ side, and Starocci has wrestled injured before.

“We have time, Sanderson stated Sunday afternoon. “We still have a couple weeks to conference and then another week and a half before the nationals. Carter has always been a quick healer. You know, he won a national title a couple of years ago with a broken hand. He’ll get in there; he’ll compete hard”

But there’s no doubt that the next few weeks just got a bit more interesting for Cael Sanderson and the Penn State wrestling program. Starocci has been a motor of the program for years, winning his 64th consecutive dual Sunday. And it’s for that reason that Sanderson believes the injury will be a motivator for his wrestling room.

“Sometimes it’s a little adversity, you know, just sharpens the senses and makes everyone a bit stronger,” he said. “We’re not writing anything off yet; [we] choose to be optimistic and positive, and things will work out.”

Penn State wrestling will appear in the Big Ten Championships in College Park, Maryland, on March 9-10. The NCAA Championships will take place March 21-23 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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