Carter Starocci talks Penn State wrestling future: Will the star come back for title No. 5?

It would be a storybook ending to the Penn State wrestling career of Carter Starocci. Battling back from injury, the 174-pounder fought his way through the bracket as an at-large seed to win his fourth National Championship this weekend. But will Starocci’s Penn State story end in Kansas City? Following his historic victory, the Nittany Lions superstar looked ahead to his quest for the 2024 Summer Olympics and discussed the possibility of returning to Happy Valley to push for an unprecedented fifth title.

Nittany Lions’ first four-timer will push for 2024 Summer Olympics

Carter Starocci cemented himself on the Mt. Rushmore of Penn State wrestling at the NCAA Championships this weekend, becoming the first Nittany Lion and the sixth wrestler in NCAA history to win four national titles. It was one of the most thrilling National Championship runs that we’ve seen in recent memory. But it almost didn’t happen.

By now, Starocci’s battle with injury doesn’t need repeating. However, we gained insight this weekend as to just how serious the situation was. Immediately following his title bout, Starocci explained that the unspecified injury had him on crutches, unable to walk less than two weeks prior.

In a move that was widely expected, Carter Starocci injury defaulted out of the Big Ten Championships earlier in March. But what wasn’t known until Saturday night was how close the Penn State wrestling star came to not competing at the NCAA Championships at all. Starocci almost sacrificed a shot at college wrestling history to recover for a bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics. U.S. Olympic Team Trials for wrestling will be held at the Bryce Jordan Center in April.

“I’ve even had some doctors ask me, ‘What are your goals?’ and things like that,” Starocci told reporters when asked if he still plans to compete at Olympic Trials. “And obviously, I told them, ‘I want to win Nationals, win the Olympics.’ And then they’re like, ‘Alright, what’s more important?’ And I said, ‘The Olympics.’

“So, there was some discussion about not wrestling in this tournament and things like that. But just again, me as a competitor, it doesn’t sit right with me watching my guys going to war, and I’m just cooped up just watching. That’s just not how I am. That’s not who I am.”

Carter Starocci makes history. He’s a 4x time NCAA champ for Penn State. Only the 6th wrestler in history to do so.

He also comments on his injury and future plans, including a potential 5th year. @On3sports x @PennStateOn3 pic.twitter.com/918H1CbFAM

— Nick Kosko (@nickkosko59) March 24, 2024

Carter Starocci still undecided on Penn State wrestling future

While Carter Starocci will compete at the Bryce Jordan Center next month, it’s still unknown if it’ll be the last time the 174-pounder will take the mat in Happy Valley. Starocci, who has a COVID year of eligibility remaining, could come back in an attempt to become the first wrestler to ever win a fifth NCAA National Championship.

In the past, the Penn State wrestling star has been fairly adamant that returning for another year of school is something he doesn’t want. But in recent weeks, those around Rec Hall were unwilling to completely close the door on the idea.

“I have no idea; I don’t know,” Nittany Lions head coach Cael Sanderson said when asked about Starocci’s future in the lead-up to the NCAA Championships. “That’s something that I’ve had some discussions with him privately, about some of those things. I’m sure he has a lot of people in his ear. But the goal now is to go get number four.”

With that mission now complete, it’s soon time for Carter Starocci to decide his future with the Penn State wrestling program. But with his eyes now set on Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, it’s an issue that he’s not willing to, at least publicly, address.

“I haven’t crossed [that road],” Starocci said Saturday. “I haven’t even crossed today’s road yet. Like I’ve said, it’s been a long journey. I love wrestling; I don’t love school. So, I don’t know, we’ll do ‘Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,’ and see where that lands.”

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlet. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can proudly claim a readership of over 3.5 million in our first year of operation.