Signed, Sealed, Starocci: Three-time National Champion Will Return For Senior Season

Penn State wrestling’s prospects of a three-peat just got brighter as Carter Starocci announced Thursday he will return for the 2023-24 campaign. In what will be the last dance for the senior.

Fresh off his third-straight individual national title and the team’s second-straight, the outspoken Erie, Pennsylvania native floated a potential early conclusion to his collegiate career.

Starocci mentioned in March on X, that he’d take time to make his decision, but with eyes on the 2024 Olympics in Paris, and a future career in the UFC, he’d take his time in making the call.

In his last two seasons, Starocci boasts an astounding 47-0 record and now sits at 80-2 in his career. He’ll look to continue his undefeated run, grasp gold one more time and eek higher in the Penn State record books.

While the accolades are nice and will surely continue to come in droves this season, for Starocci this run is all about giving back to the college one last time.

In a video announcing his decision, Starocci said, “Penn State’s given so much to me and I kind of owe it to Penn State and the whole community to bring another banner back to State College. It’s kind of hard to turn this program down when you’re in the best place in the world.”

Starocci and the Nittany Lions kick their dual-meet slate off December 3rd at Rec Hall when they play host to Lehigh.

Dylan Price is a third-year majoring in journalism. To contact him, email dvp5625@psu.edu.