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5X National Champion - Carter Starocci
PHILADELPHIA – Greatness isn’t given. It’s earned, match by match, takedown by takedown. Carter Starocci just etched his name in the history books, becoming the first NCAA Division I wrestler ever to win five national titles. In front of a roaring crowd at the Wells Fargo Center, the Penn State superstar solidified his legacy with a gritty win over defending champion Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa.
When you first see Carter Starocci, you probably get the impression that he's Italian which he gets from his dad's side but when you see him you know there's a little seasoning in him. Is he black you may ask? Yes, his mother is black, which confirms him as a member of the Black Delegation. He's representing the culture, and we're proud of ouro 5X National Champion, greatness is in his blood.
The Road to Five Titles
Starocci’s path to immortality has been paved with dominance and resilience. From the moment he stepped onto the mat as a freshman in 2021, it was clear he was built differently. His collegiate debut against Indiana’s DJ Washington resulted in one of just two full-length match losses in his career. But from that moment on, he never looked back.
2024, though, tested him in ways he hadn’t faced before. A knee injury late in the season forced him to take injury defaults at the Big Ten tournament, but Starocci battled through the pain to capture his fourth NCAA title, taking down former national champs Lewis and Shane Griffith (Michigan) in the process.
Coming into this season, the pressure was at an all-time high. No one had ever won five titles. But thanks to the extra eligibility from the 2021 COVID season and his willingness to compete as a true freshman, Starocci had the chance to make history. And he didn’t let it slip away. He's officially entered the GOAT conversation, and credits training with Olympians as what gives him his edge. Like Michael Jordan famously said, practice harder than your games, which Allen Iverson may disagree with....
The Match That Defined a Legacy
Moving up to a different class to 184 this season meant that Keckeisen wasn’t going to make history easy for Starocci. Last year’s champion at 184 pounds, Keckeisen fought his way to the finals with a hard-fought semifinal win over Max McEnelly. From the opening whistle, both wrestlers knew what was at stake.
The first period was a chess match—no points, just high-level defense and patience. In the second period, Starocci broke the deadlock with a crucial escape, putting him up 1-0. Then, in the third, he found his moment. In a scramble initiated by Keckeisen, Starocci capitalized, securing the only takedown of the match. Keckeisen escaped and pressed forward, but Starocci’s defense held firm.
And just like that, history was made.
The Only One
Five-for-five. A perfect record in national finals. No one has ever done it before. Carter Starocci isn’t just a Penn State legend—he’s a wrestling legend, period. His dominance, resilience, and championship mentality put him in a league of his own.
From his first title as a freshman to his historic fifth, Starocci has shown what it means to wear his JRZY with pride. The only question left now? What’s next for one of the greatest to ever do it?
