Exciting Developments in NCAA Wrestling as Season Approaches
As the NCAA wrestling season gets closer, buzz is spreading about incredible talent and key changes within various teams. State College is particularly notable this year, as both the Penn State Nittany Lions and their prominent wrestlers gear up for competition.
Penn State made waves last year with Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks, who became the sixth and seventh wrestlers in history to win four NCAA championships. Starocci aims to make history himself as he looks to become the first wrestler ever to nab five national titles. His path was aided by the unique “free” COVID year, allowing him to compete despite a prior loss during his redshirt freshman season.
Starocci has not faced defeat in a full match since then, winning a staggering 64 matches in a row. After an injury-shortened 2023-2024 season, he still fought hard through the NCAA tournament to secure his fourth championship title. However, this season, he faces a new challenge by stepping up a weight class to compete at 184 pounds.
His primary competitor for the season is currently ranked second: Parker Keckeisen, the reigning 2024 NCAA champion, who boasts an impressive record of undefeated wins last season. This matchup is shaping up to be an exciting showdown, pitting Starocci’s dynamic style against Keckeisen’s more reserved approach.
In other exciting news, David Taylor, a legend at Penn State, has transitioned to coaching at Oklahoma State. The expectation is high for him to elevate this historic program back to the forefront of college wrestling. Taylor inherits a squad that includes some strong returning talent and promising newcomers.
The landscape is also shifting, with numerous teams making key roster changes via transfers. Michigan added a standout in Jacob Cardenas, while Virginia Tech welcomed new faces like Lennox Wolak as they compete for their first trophy since 2016. Meanwhile, Iowa’s coaching staff has bolstered their lineup with three All-Americans.
With all these ambitious players and shifting dynamics, competition promises to be fierce this upcoming season in NCAA wrestling.
