Why a ‘frustrated’ Carter Starocci didn’t want to permanently leave Penn State wrestling
Four days after Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci’s outburst on social media, one that made fans wonder if he might be finished with the program, Starocci addressed the media Wednesday and said any frustrations are now in the past.
He’s now planning to wrestle in the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships, and the three-time national champ hasn’t even ruled out returning to Penn State for a sixth season — since he has an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID season.
“I think it was moreso an in-the-moment thing and moreso just frustrations, but I love Penn State,” Starocci said, referring to his tweet Saturday night. “I would never plan on leaving this place. It was just kind of, moreso, just in the emotions, just very frustrated at the time. I would do anything for Penn State.”
Long a fan favorite, Starocci entered this past weekend’s Big Ten Wrestling Championships after coming off an apparent leg injury against Edinboro in late February. The 174-pound wrestler acknowledged Wednesday that he arrived at Big Tens expecting to compete, but he twice injury-defaulted Saturday — an intentional move that forfeited his bouts, breaking a 64-match win streak, but kept him eligible for the NCAA championships later this month.
Late Saturday night, he tweeted on X: “Looking forward to a new chapter. Thank you Penn State forever.” The tweet was also stamped as being from State College, while the team was still competing in Maryland.
Some fans took that as a sign that Starocci was incensed after expecting to wrestle at Big Tens before his head coach might’ve changed his mind. Neither Starocci nor Sanderson dispelled that narrative Wednesday — although both emphasized they’ve moved past it.
“It was frustrating but, looking back on it, it’s a blessing to have a coach that really cares about me, not just as a wrestler but as a person,” Starocci said. “I think he was in a lose-lose situation. He puts me out there and then he’s kind of second-guessing himself, or the other alternative is I’m getting pissed at him. But, at the end of the day, he’s the bossman. I work for him. So whatever he decides, that’s what I’m going to roll with.”
Added Sanderson: “There was some drama and some things over the weekend, but we felt really comfortable that was obviously in his best interest to not give him the opportunity to wrestle, and to just stay healthy. I think it was definitely the right decision, and he’s doing well. He’ll be ready to go.”
Sanderson often keeps injuries like Starocci’s close to the vest, so neither media nor fans knew what to anticipate at Big Tens. On Wednesday, however, Starocci said he was “fully healthy.” And Sanderson acknowledged his wrestler “probably would have done really well” if he did compete at Big Tens.
Sanderson just didn’t want to risk it.
“He’s the man. I mean, he’s done everything that I ever want to do in this life, in wrestling and outside of wrestling,” Starocci said. “Almost every word that comes out of his mouth — maybe besides that day — I’m always on board with. I would do anything for Coach Cael.”
Starocci discovered Tuesday that he earned an at-large bid to the NCAA championships, so his season isn’t over. He’s looking to clinch his fourth straight national championship, in addition to helping Penn State claim its third straight team title and potentially set a team scoring record.
If he would’ve wrestled over the weekend, he almost certainly would’ve earned a top seed at nationals. But Starocci didn’t seem to mind much Wednesday about having a tougher road to the title. In fact, he swore he preferred it.
“I don’t care what they seed me,” he added. “Don’t even have me seeded; just have me wrestle every single kid in the bracket one by one. And I’ll take them all out inside three days. ... I think it’s more enjoyable this way.”
CDT reporter Nate Cobler contributed to this report
This story was originally published March 13, 2024 at 4:10 PM.
