Penn State wrestling star not viewed as overwhelming favorite to repeat as NCAA Champion

The Penn State wrestling season is less than three weeks away, and the preseason expectations for each weight class are beginning to take form. The Nittany Lions have one of the greatest college wrestlers to ever take the mat, four-time National Champion Carter Starocci. But despite being on the verge of an unprecedented fifth NCAA title, FloWrestling analyst Christian Pyles isn’t ready to go all-in on Starocci as the preseason favorite at 184 pounds.

Recently on the FloWrestling Radio Live podcast, Pyles ranked each weight class by his confidence level in his predicted champion finding his way to the top of the podium at the NCAA Championships in March. While still choosing the Nittany Lions standout, Pyles had Starocci a surprising 9/10 that his prediction would be proven correct.

“I respect Parker Keckeisen. For the time being, I am picking Carter Starocci, and I did go back-and-forth on this, truly,” Pyles stated. “I then started to think about how Carter Starocci won NCAAs last year on one leg. He went through two NCAA Champions to do it. This guy is a competitor, and that’s what it’s going to come down to.”

After becoming the sixth wrestler in NCAA Division I history to win four individual National Championships this spring, Carter Starocci chose to use his COVID year of eligibility to pursue a fifth in 2025.

However, moving from 174 pounds, where he won his first four titles, will present a new roadblock: Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen. The reigning National Champion at 184 pounds, Keckeisen finished 2024 31-0 with a dominant 90.32 bonus percentage, both career bests. He is 102-6 in his career, with two losses coming to former Penn State wrestling star, four-time NCAA Champion, and Olympian Aaron Brooks.

Parker Keckeisen will be biggest challenge of Starocci’s Penn State wrestling career

© Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Carter Starocci injured his leg against Edinboro’s Joey Arnold in the regular season finale last February. The injury was so severe that many questioned whether he would even be able to wrestle in the postseason. While Starocci did medically forfeit out of the Big Ten Championships and lose his 60+ match unbeaten streak, he was able to make it back for the NCAA Championships, where he defeated both Mekhi Lewis and Shane Griffith on his way to the title.

Starocci currently has a 93-4 record, his only two non-injury default losses coming during his redshirt freshman season in 2021. However, Pyles thinks the test he will get this season may be the biggest of his career.

“He hasn’t lost truly since 2021 – Big Tens,” he said. “He is tough to pick against, but this will be the best guy he has wrestled in his NCAA career. So, it’s going to be his biggest test to make history.”

It’s not outrageous to think that Keckeisen could knock off Starocci this spring. Both are expected to make it to the NCAA Finals undefeated, setting up one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.

There haven’t been many times one of Carter Starocci’s duals could truly fit in a toss-up category. But the Penn State wrestling star’s anticipated battle with Keckeisen could add intrigue to the 184 weight class and the Nittany Lions quest for another NCAA Championships team record.

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