Penn State wrestling legend Carter Starocci has qualified for the U.S. National Team and beat an old foe to do it.
Starocci had already beaten Parker Keckeisen twice in folkstyle when the former was at Penn State and the latter at Northern Iowa.
Now, Starocci has a win over Keckeisen in freestyle, beating him 4-3 to take third place at Final X and make it to the U.S. National Team.Starocci made the national team by placing third at 86 KG. The people who will be fighting for firstโ and the chance to represent Team USA at the World Championships in Croatia this Septemberโ are Kyle Dake and Zahid Valencia.
Dake, who wrestled at Cornell but is a member of Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, beat Starocci in controversial fashion at last monthโs World Team Trials to punch his Final X ticket.
Dake and Valencia will face off in a two out of three falls series later Saturday.
Starocci has had an interesting week, having been accused of misconduct earlier.
From a pure wrestling standpoint, heโs as good as he ever was
