I might have just been an exhibition, but Penn State wrestling star Carter Starocci served notice Saturday night. Starocci picked up a victory over fellow defending national champion Parker Keckeisen.
Starocci vs. Keckeisen served as the main event at the NWCA All-Star Wrestling Classic. The event was held on the campus of the Nittany Lions, who are also the defending NCAA team champions.
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A reigning and defending four-time NCAA champion Starocci is taking advantage of his extra year of eligibility to chase history. He started it with a 4-1 win over Keckeisen, who won gold at 184 pounds last year for the University of Northern Iowa.
Starocci, a champion at 174 pounds, was one of five Penn State wrestlers competing at the event. As a group, they finished 4-1 overall with Levi Haines, Tyler Kasak and Shayne Van Ness joining their leader as winners. Beau Bartlett fell to defending champ Jesse Mendez of Ohio State.
This marked the first time at the collegiate level that Starocci has wrestled at 184 pounds. There was no tougher opponent for the weight class that he could have drawn. Last year, Keckeisen was 31-0 with 28 bonus-point victories.
Both Starocci and Keckeisen were finalists for the Hodge Trophy. That award goes yearly to the top amateur wrestler, with Penn State’s Aaron Brooks winning it.
Starocci struck first, earning an escape point. An escape by Keckeisen in the third tied it and forced sudden-victory. That is when Starocci got in for a takedown, winning with 35 seconds left.
If he can go all the way again this year, Starocci will become the first-ever Div. I wrestler to win five NCAA titles.
