As the NCAA Wrestling Championships for the 2024-25 season draw to a close, the focus of many fans shifts to the coveted Dan Hodge Trophy and who will ultimately claim this esteemed award. This list features UFC’s Bo Nickal, who is eager to learn the outcome, as he has a contender in mind as well. And who might that be? Carter Starocci of Penn State showcased his dominance as he clinched the 184 lbs title, marking a historic fifth championship at the NCAA level. Should another competitor claim the win instead of Starocci, it would undoubtedly cause significant disappointment for the UFC star.
In a recent video posted on Bo Nickal’s YouTube channel, he remarked, “Yeah, if Carter doesn’t get the Hodge, I’m throwing a fit. It’s disgusting. It’s the award. If he doesn’t get the Hodge, the award means nothing. It means nothing anymore. The legitimacy goes away. I feel like you know they gave it a couple years ago to a heavyweight that I don’t feel deserved it, and uh, Carter deserved it, and it’s like, man, do you just give the award to whoever you like the best now? Is that how it works? Like, is it a participation trophy or is it an award?”
Penn State’s 184 lbs standout Carter Starocci etched his name in NCAA history by becoming the first wrestler to secure five national titles, concluding the season with an unblemished record of 22-0, an impressive 85% bonus rate, and a dominance score of 4.09. Although the wrestling program featured other impressive competitors like Penn State’s 165 lbs sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink, who achieved a 22-0 record with a 94% bonus rate and a 4.78 dominance score, Starocci stood out as exceptional.
“Because figure out like who’s the best wrestler and who’s the most dominant and give it to that guy. That’s it; there’s a bunch of criteria. Um, essentially it’s the most dominant wrestler. Okay, and uh, past credentials have a factor in as well,” stated Nickal. The UFC star emphasizes the commitment and hard work that Starocci has demonstrated throughout his years as a college wrestler. He showcased his prowess at Penn State under the guidance of coach Cael Sanderson, consistently demonstrating dominance throughout his career, with five NCAA titles that stand as a testament to his exceptional abilities.
Nickal clinched his Dan Hodge Trophy in 2019, demonstrating his awareness of the significance of this accolade. According to him, Starocci is the most deserving candidate. Do you remember when Nickal, a proud Penn State alum, stood up for the wrestling program in light of the recent steroid allegations?
Bo Nickal defending Penn State wrestlers
Recall the moment when Cornell’s Meyer Shapiro remarked, “I could be a 49-pounder if all I wanted to be, you know. Some guys, you know, they’re taking steroids and they’re not taking steroids, you know, wink wink. It’s just crazy, you know.” These assertions emerged following his match against Penn State’s Tyler Kasak, in which he was defeated. This has sparked inquiries regarding the wrestling program.
In Penn State’s defense, Bo Nickal stated, “I mean, I’m sure that there are some people doing steroids, but the reality is like we’re d— tested quite a bit, and I think that more than anything it’s just like pretty classless to make that claim without any evidence. He made the claim, and he wasn’t man enough to like actually name names. He just said, like, ‘I just know people are on steroids.’ It’s like, bro, are you all right? You’re going to say that after you just lost like, you just sound like a baby. And then a couple of people, a couple of Iowa guys, like, chimed in after that and were like, ‘Oh.’ And it’s like, dude, the reality of the situation is like when you’re not good enough to win, you make excuses, right?”
In straightforward language, Nickal was frustrated with how Shapiro made accusations against the unnamed wrestler without providing any substantial evidence of PED use. In the NCAA, the use of performance-enhancing drugs is prohibited. However, these allegations cast doubt on a program such as Penn State, which has experienced considerable success in recent years. Additionally, the UFC star observed that certain Iowa Hawkeyes wrestlers appeared to be stoking this controversy by sharing their reactions on social media.
“A lot of people that are weak-minded do that, and uh, I think that it’s just that it’s being weak-minded. It’s being jealous. Like, the only person that’s actually competing against guys on steroids is probably me because all these fighters are actually on steroids, right? But uh, no, I don’t think anybody—nobody in the top level of the NCAA—is doing steroids. Like they’re just getting tested too much, and there’s too big of a risk,” remarked Nickal.
The UFC star has a background as an NCAA wrestler as well. It appears he is aware of the developments in the season. He asserts that the regulations are so stringent that there is minimal opportunity for individuals to gain an unfair advantage through the use of such performance-enhancing substances.
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