‘Ticks me off’: Carter Starocci fires back at concerns about Penn State wrestling after slow start

For the 10th time under Cael Sanderson and for the fourth consecutive year, Penn State wrestling claimed the Big Ten Regular Season Championship Sunday after taking down Nebraska 22-13 inside Rec Hall. Although eventually securing the comfortable win, the No. 4 Cornhuskers pushed the top-ranked Nittany Lions more than in any other dual, with several early defeats putting the Blue and White behind for the first considerable amount of time all year. But for those inside the Penn State wrestling room, concerns that the Nittany Lions showed their first signs of weakness against Nebraska are considerably overblown. After Sunday’s dual, Penn State star Carter Starocci had a fiery response for those worried about his team’s sluggish start against the Cornhuskers.

Penn State wrestling uses second-half rally to overpower Nebraska

This season, Cael Sanderson has arguably the most talented roster of his tenure in Happy Valley. With nine of 10 starters ranked inside the top 10 of their weight classes, Penn State wrestling has been blowing through even its toughest competition this year. Coming into the weekend, the Nittany Lions’ closest bout was a 27-9 victory over then-No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor on January 19.

But Penn State was tested for really the first time this season on Sunday when Nebraska came to town with a share of the Big Ten dual season crown on the line. An upset of No. 6 Braeden Davis at 125, followed by a Cornhusker victory at 133 with starter Aaron Nagao out due to illness put the Nittany Lions in an early 7-0 hole.

True freshman Tyler Kasak dropped a hard-fought match to top-ranked Ridge Lovett, giving Penn State three losses in the first five bouts. The 10-6 deficit at the break was the first time the Nittany Lions trailed at the midway point of a dual this season.

But as to be expected with this Penn State wrestling program, the back half of the lineup dominated. The Nittany Lions won four out of the final five matches to earn the nine-point win. Penn State’s top-ranked wrestlers put down the Cornhuskers in commanding fashion, with Carter Starocci earning a tech fall and Aaron Brooks, and Greg Kerkvliet each getting major decisions.

Carter Starocci had fiery response for those concerned with Nittany Lions’ sluggish start

While it can be argued whether or not the win was ever really in jeopardy, Sunday’s dual was ultimately closer than anticipated. Nebraska was expected to carry victories over Kasak and Bernie Truax at 149 and 184, respectively. However, Davis’ upset and Nagao’s absence were surprises.

But those thinking that Penn State wrestling may have just shown vulnerability for the first time this season may want to reconsider. After the dual, Nittany Lions star Carter Starocci had a strong response when asked if there was any concern trailing at the break.

“We were fine even though we were down at the half,” Starocci said. “That stuff kind of ticks me off a little bit. We’ll keep getting better, and our best wrestling is going to be at the national tournament; that’s our main focus.”

Starocci also said that the Nittany Lions took a “business as usual” approach to the intermission, although he noted that he joined his teammates in the locker room, which he typically does not. 

While he didn’t go as far as his starter at 174, Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson also stated the Nittany Lions were not concerned about the slow start.

“We know who we have in our lineup, and it’s a team effort,” Sanderson said. “And if something doesn’t go our way, it just gives other people an opportunity to step up and help the team. We always want to win every match, but we’ve got some stuff we can play with, and we just have to get ready for the next one.”

With the win, the Nittany Lions clinched their third straight undefeated record in the Big Ten. Penn State wrestling will look to cap off another undefeated regular season Sunday against Edinboro.

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