Carter Starocci reveals post-title conversation with Donald Trump

Carter Starocci made NCAA history on Saturday, defeating Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa to win an unprecedented fifth NCAA title. The Penn State wrestling star capped off his decorated career by defeating the defending 184-pound NCAA Champion 4-3 to become the first – and most likely last – Division I wrestler to ever win five individual national championships.

Still, Starocci wasn’t the biggest name inside the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night. Moments after the Nittany Lion claimed his historic title, President Donald Trump took his seat beside the mat at the NCAA Championships.

Starocci was among the first of many competitors to greet Trump throughout the NCAA Finals. On Monday, the five-time champion appeared on Fox News to discuss his interaction with the president.

Carter Starocci made sure to go over and grab a picture with President Trump after winning his 5th NCAA title last night at the Wells Fargo Center #WeAre #PSUwr #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/izZVQTwhj3

— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) March 23, 2025

“It was awesome,” Starocci said. “For us, maybe it wasn’t as great because I was the first match. And so when I was warming up, they were saying, ‘Hey, when he walks in the building, we are going to shut everything down.’ So I was like, ‘Oh well, I better get warmed up now.’

“But just having his presence and everything like that [was great]. I was in the tunnel, and I saw him back there; I was like, ‘Wow, these guys are here.’”

As it turns out, one of Starocci’s many fans resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

“I just told him, ‘Hey, I hope you enjoyed the show,’” Starocci recounted of his conversation with Trump. “And he was like, ‘I did; you’re one of my favorite wrestlers to watch in the world. I love your tenacity. I love your interviews.’

“I told him I appreciated his persona as well. And I told him a story, too. I was like, ‘Hey when I was warming up, they made it a little hard for me because you’re the big dog.’ And he laughed and then gave me a nice coin to recognize me.”

What’s next for the Penn State wrestling star?

Penn State wrestling 184-pounder Carter Starocci. © Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

Saturday night’s title bout was Starocci’s final match in a Blue and White singlet. Perhaps the most accomplished athlete in Penn State wrestling history, Starocci has assumed a mentality much like that of Cael Sanderson and is already preparing for his next challenge.

In addition to confirming his plans to join the UFC, the Nittany Lion star also has plans to represent his country.

“Right now, I’m just trying to enjoy this moment. One thing our coach always tells us is to never inhale on things like this,” he said. “Obviously, we are on Fox News and talking about it, but this is just another stepping stone for me and the program.

“So for me, just never inhale on these kind of things and keep looking forward to the next thing. So right now, just enjoying this moment with my family and friends. And I’ll have a meeting with the coaches. But for me, I plan on winning the Olympics in 2028 in our home country.”

The 2028 Summer Olympics will take place in Los Angeles and will be one of the biggest stages the sport of wrestling has experienced in years. The Nittany Lion Wrestling Club was well represented on Team USA in 2024, picking up four of six qualifying spots, including Penn State wrestling alumni Aaron Brooks and Zain Retherford.

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