Penn State wrestling, Carter Starocci still mum on extent of Cathedral Prep grad's injury
The question was likely asked untold times by Penn State University’s wrestling fans at Rec Hall on Sunday: What’s Carter Starocci’s status?
Starocci, a 2019 Cathedral Prep graduate and three-time NCAA Division I gold medalist, suffered what appeared to be a right knee injury during his final takedown of a 22-5 technical fall against Edinboro University’s Joey Arnold in their 174-pound match. That result also contributed to the Nittany Lions’ 55-0 dual victory in their regular season finale.
However, there was no answer to the question regarding Starocci’s health by Sunday night.
Nor is one anticipated from the former Rambler or the team until March 9, when the Big Ten Conference tournament opens at the University of Maryland’s XFINITY Center.
Penn State hasn’t provided an update on Starocci.
The Erie Times-News also left a message on the former Ramblers’ cell phone Tuesday afternoon, but it wasn’t returned.
A Times-News video clip from the end of Starocci’s match has received more than 87,000 views since it was posted on X shortly before 3 p.m. on Sunday.
No update on the status of Cathedral Prep graduate Carter Starocci, who appeared to injure his right knee on this match-clinching, three-point near fall of Edinboro’s Joey Arnold.
Look for mostly celebratory video of senior day for the Penn State star at https://t.co/vsKKO5sCKl. pic.twitter.com/g1jV7Dm0a1— Mike Copper (@ETNcopper) February 26, 2024
Compiled video that appears at GoErie.com also showed Lions coach Cael Sanderson and trainer Dan Monthley support Starocci when he finally stood up, placed some weight on his right leg and slowly walked off the mat.
Starocci’s costly win left him with a career record of 73-2 in a Penn State singlet.
“We carried him off the best we could,” Sanderson said in a Centre Daily Times article that was published Tuesday. “Thankfully, it was at the end of the match, so he could kind of just get off the mat and be finished. We still have a couple of weeks (to the conference tournament) and then another week and a half before nationals.
“Carter has always been a quick healer.”
Starocci revealed after he won the 174 bracket for the 2022 NCAA tournament that he competed throughout it with a broken hand.
More: Former Cathedral Prep wrestler Carter Starocci injured in final home match for Penn State
A way forward
Tuesday’s Centre Daily Times article also detailed how Starocci could qualify for the March 21-23 national meet, scheduled for the T-Mobile Center at Kansas City, Missouri, with minimal on-mat action at Maryland.
Starocci would need to start three matches to be eligible for a Rating Percentage Index ranking. It’s possible for him to only physically wrestle in one match and take medical forfeits for all others.
Although Starocci would only receive an at-large berth for nationals, he’d still be eligible to attempt to become only the sixth four-time Division I titlist in NCAA wrestling history.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Penn State silent on status of injured wrestler Carter Starocci
