Not one, not two, not three—nope, make it five. Carter Starocci just etched his name into NCAA wrestling history, becoming the first-ever five-time national champion. And he didn’t just win—he did it in front of a packed Wells Fargo Arena, with none less than President Donald Trump in attendance. His 4-3 victory over Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa wasn’t just another title—it was the defining moment of an already stacked Penn State dynasty. And talk about timing! His win at 184 pounds gave the Nittany Lions the exact four points they needed to break their own NCAA team points record from last year.
It was the kind of match that legends are made of—an absolute battle against an undefeated reigning champ who had pushed him to the edge in a sudden victory overtime back in November. But when the moment mattered most, Carter Starocci delivered. A clutch takedown with 45 seconds left sealed the deal, and he held off Keckeisen’s late-game desperation to officially become one of the greatest to ever do it. But despite Starocci’s insane feat, the post-match buzz wasn’t all about him. Wrestling fans were left frustrated as Trump’s presence seemed to steal the show.
A popular X fan account, The Wrestling Nomad, wasn’t holding back after Carter Starocci’s historic fifth NCAA title win. He fired off, “God d— it Trump let Starocci finish!”—and honestly? The fans were right there with him. Just as Starocci was soaking in his legendary moment, ESPN cut away from his in-match interview to focus on Trump instead. And let’s just say… the wrestling world was not having it.
God damn it Trump let Starocci finish!
— The Wrestling Nomad (@wrestlingnomad) March 22, 2025
Another fan wasn’t holding back, dropping, “For real, nobody big dawgs Carter!!”—and honestly? Facts. This man isn’t just a champ; he’s a walking legend in college wrestling. Let’s talk numbers—because his 2023-24 senior year was nothing short of iconic. Carter went 17-2, and those two “losses”?
Yeah, they were precautionary injury defaults at the Big Ten Championships—moves that let him heal up, come back stronger, and still snag his fourth straight NCAA title two weeks later. And now? Go ahead and add one more to that list. He went 9-0 in dual meets, stacking up three pins, six techs, and a major, and oh yeah—he was a Hodge Trophy finalist. If dominance had a name, it would be Carter Starocci.
This story is developing…
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