Starocci seeks fifth title as Penn State competes

Carter Starocci, a graduate student at Penn State, aims to win his fifth national wrestling title at the NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia from March 20 to 22. Starocci is currently undefeated in NCAA tournaments with a record of 20-0. He will compete in the 184-pound weight class after winning his previous titles at 174 pounds. Penn State's wrestling team is also on a quest for its fourth consecutive team championship. The team, led by coach Cael Sanderson, has won 11 of the last 13 titles. This year, they have 10 qualifiers, including four number one seeds: Starocci, Luke Lilledahl at 125 pounds, Tyler Kasak at 157, and Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 pounds. Another key competitor, Gable Steveson, is vying for his third heavyweight title. Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist and has returned to college wrestling after a brief career in World Wrestling Entertainment and the NFL. He has a perfect record this season and recently defeated the reigning national champion, Greg Kerkvliet, in the Big Ten finals. Oklahoma State's A.J. Ferrari, a former national champion at 197 pounds, is also making a return after facing injuries and legal issues. He is the number three seed in his weight class. Meanwhile, Missouri's Keegan O’Toole seeks his third title, competing at 174 pounds this time. Other wrestlers to watch include Purdue’s Matt Ramos, who aims to make a comeback after surprising many in previous competitions, and Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez, looking for a repeat victory. With many exciting matchups on the horizon, the championship promises to be a thrilling event.