Penn State's Carter Starocci Won't Wrestle at Big Ten Championships

Penn State's Carter Starocci voluntarily ended his 64-bout win streak Saturday, taking an injury default in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. As a result, Starocci likely will default out of the tournament and look for an at-large bid to the NCAA Wrestling Championships, where he will seek his fourth national title.

Starocci, now officially 12-1 on the season, weighed in at 174 pounds Saturday, took the mat against Minnesota's Andrew Sparks and put on the scoring band before defaulting. It was the required procedure for Starocci to be eligible for the NCAA Championships. Starocci most likely will do the same later Saturday in the consolation round. He wore a sleeve on his right leg but appeared to be walking normally after the default.

By defaulting out of the tournament, Starocci must received one of the four at-large bids to the NCAA Championships at 174. He is assured to receive one but likely will be seeded outside the top 6.

Starocci was a public question mark heading into the Big Ten tournament. The nation's top-ranked wrestler at 174 pounds sustained a leg injury in the waning seconds of Penn State's last regular-season match against Edinboro on Feb. 25. Starocci had clinched a technical fall and was pursuing the pin when his leg twisted between his competitor's. Starocci was helped off the mat after the bout.

Last week Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said that Starocci planned to continue his "search-and-destroy" mission at the Big Ten tournament. But even two weeks ago, Sanderson said he was "optimistic" about Starocci's health.

"Carter’s a tough kid," Sanderson said after the match at Penn State's Rec Hall. "He’s been to the national tournament with injuries before. ... He was obviously in some pain, and we carried him off the best we could, and he’s just going to go to work and get ready to roll."

A two-time Big Ten champion, Starocci had not lost since the 2021 Big Ten tournament final against Iowa's Michael Kemerer. Starocci avenged that loss in the 2021 NCAA final, scoring a sudden-victory takedown for a 3-1 win over Kemerer.

Starocci's career record now stands at 73-3.

More Penn State Wrestling

Penn State's Carter Starocci seeks to resume his "search-and-destroy" mission at Big Tens

Penn State clinches fourth straight Big Ten regular season title

Penn State continues to headline the college wrestling rankings

Penn State demonstrates its dominance in milestone win over Rutgers

Penn State routs Iowa on a landmark night for Cael Sanderson

Penn State turns up the volume at 'awkwardly quiet' Rec Hall

Penn State tops Ohio State, but not without a struggle

Penn State routs Maryland 42-6 for 51st consecutive victory

Penn State sets dates for 2024 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.