Penn State wrestling star hits career milestone in chase of historic season

Penn State wrestling is coming off yet another dominant win, this time 42-6 over No. 27 Maryland in College Park on Sunday. While the Nittany Lions took care of the Terrapins without even fielding a full lineup, one Penn State star reached a major career milestone this weekend. With his victory Sunday, Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci has extended his winning streak to 60 consecutive duals.

Carter Starocci reaches win streak milestone

Nittany Lions star Carter Starocci extended his win streak to 60 on Sunday after pinning Mason Stein, a victory that garnered much social media attention for the reaction from the Maryland coaching staff after the dual. With the win, the senior continues to build upon the longest active streak in the nation. Prior to the start of the season, no other wrestler was within 30 victories of Starocci.

The Penn State wrestling star hasn’t lost since his redshirt freshman season in 2021, when he fell to Iowa’s Michael Kemerer in the Big Ten Tournament final. He later redeemed that loss in the NCAA Tournament, winning the title at 174 and finishing the 2021 season 14-2.

Carter Starocci then went 23-0 in 2022, 24-0 in 2023, and is already 8-0 for the 2024 season. He also went 19-0 during his redshirt year, underscoring the dominances that would come later on in his career.

Penn State wrestling star chasing greatness

Now, Carter Starocci looks to make history, as he and teammate Aaron Brooks look to join the list of just five wrestlers who can claim to be a four-time national champion. Of course, this list already includes Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson, who went 159-0 and won four national titles from 1999-2002 at Iowa State.

Starocci sits with an 85-2 record and is on pace to reach the 100-win club by the end of the season. If he wins out and captures his fourth straight national championship, Starocci will not just be considered one of the best wrestlers in Penn State wrestling history, but one of the greatest in NCAA history.

Carter Starocci will next face No. 11 Rocco Welsh on Friday night when Penn State wrestling squares off against Ohio State inside Rec Hall.

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