Penn State wrestling star day-to-day after ‘health complications’ led to late Michigan scratch

Penn State wrestling steamrolled another top-ranked opponent Friday night, downing No. 5 Michigan 27-9 in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions earned the victory without one of the program’s top wrestlers, as senior superstar Carter Starocci was a late scratch from the lineup due to self-described “health complications.” After the dual, Starocci explained why the choice was made to sit him out against the Wolverines and whether or not he will compete in Sunday’s dual against Michigan State.

Carter Starocci: “Health complications” led to Michigan scratch

Friday night, Penn State wrestling took the mat in one of the most anticipated duals of the year against No. 5 Michigan in Ann Arbor. But as we’ve become accustomed to in the Cael Sanderson era, the Wolverines were no match for the Nittany Lions. Penn State took eight of ten bouts in the Crisler Center en route to another easy win.

However, the Nittany Lions were able to dominate without one of the top wrestlers in the entire country. Three-time national champion Carter Starocci was a surprising late scratch against the Wolverines at 174. Instead of watching a highly anticipated match between No. 1 and No. 4, senior Terrell Barraclough moved up from 165 to face Michigan’s Shane Griffith. Barraclough nearly pulled the upset, but ultimately fell 2-1 in the hard-fought bout.

Following the dual, Carter Starocci explained what led to his last-minute scratch. While he expressed that it was difficult not to compete, Starocci believes he made the “mature” decision to sit out.

“Just some health complications,” Starocci told FloWrestling as to why he was out of the lineup. “It obviously tears me apart not to be out there. So, it was a last-minute decision. I think the old me, I would have went out there and wrestled. But just being mature and just leveling up in life. I think it’s just a mature decision not to go out there.”

An update from Carter Starocci pic.twitter.com/lWgRXnBn6t

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) January 20, 2024

Penn State wrestling star day-to-day with Michigan State dual on the horizon

Clearly, the health complications that Carter Starocci discussed don’t appear to be serious enough to keep him out long-term. But with another road dual against Michigan State set for tomorrow, there is question as to if the Penn State wrestling star will be able to compete.

“I’m going to shoot for Sunday,” Starocci said. “So, we’ll see, it’ll be another game-time decision.”

Obviously, it would benefit the Nittany Lions if Starocci, who is 4-0 in duals and 7-0 on the year, could compete against Michigan State. But Cael Sanderson has several options at 174 if Starocci can’t go Sunday.

The most obvious choice seems to be having Terrell Barraclough wrestle up from 165 again. Barraclough is 6-2 on the season and 0-1 in duals. But Penn State wrestling also has Brian Borden (3-2, 0-0), Aurelius Dunbar (2-4, 0-0), and Joe Lee (0-0) on the roster, who have experienced mixed success in limited action this year.

With the win over Michigan, Penn State wrestling moved to 5-0 on the season. The Nittany Lions face the 7-2 Michigan State Spartans on Sunday in East Lansing at 1 p.m.

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