One of the most dominant wrestlers in the sport secured his 60th straight dual-match victory when top-ranked Carter Starocci of Penn State faced off against Mason Stein of Maryland on Sunday, January 28. The match wasn’t close, with Starocci winning by fall in the second period to improve on the longest active win streak in the country.

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The win Sunday brought his season record to 8-0 and a total collegiate record to an outstanding 84-2. Starocci is going for his third straight unbeaten season and a fourth straight national title for the Nittany Lions.

The 174-pounder is a three-time All-American, three-time NCAA Champion, two-time Big Ten Champion, and was a Hodge Trophy finalist in 2023. He was also named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2021.

Starocci was a standout at Cathedral Prep in Erie, Pennsylvania, as a high schooler. He posted an overall record of 172-10 with two state titles. The four-year letterman and team captain for the Ramblers also had two undefeated seasons in his junior and senior years while also earning academic honors twice in his high school career.

After redshirting in the 2019-20 season, Starocci posted a 14-2 record in the 2020-21 season. He was the Big Ten Runner in the 174-pound weight class, earned All-American status, and won the NCAA National Championship in his first trip to the event. The 2020-21 season also marked the last time Starocci lost a dual match in his storied Penn State career.

As a sophomore, Starocci went a perfect 23-0 and captured his first Big Ten title before repeating as an All-American and National Champion where he defeated No. 2 Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech in a thrilling overtime victory in the finals.

Last year, Starocci continued his dominance for the 2022-23 season. He once again posted an undefeated record, going 24-0 overall. He repeated as Big Ten Champion for the second time and became a three-time All-American and NCAA National Champion. He finished the season with nine majors and three tech falls. He also secured four pins, one of which was over No. 2 Mike Labriola of Nebraska in the national finals.

After his impressive junior year, many believed Starocci was done with collegiate wrestling and would turn his attention to training for the Olympics. However, the wrestler disclosed that he would return for one last year in Happy Valley and compete for his fourth national title.