Throughout his NCAA wrestling career, Carter Starocci’s defining characteristic could be summed up in one word: dominance. With four NCAA titles already under his belt, he is now gearing up for his fifth with the Penn State Nittany Lions, as this year marks his final chapter in college wrestling. As the season approaches its finale next month, Starocci is set to maintain a sharp focus on what lies ahead, especially considering that Penn State has remained undefeated this year with a record of 15-0. During this period, he has expressed worry about a fellow wrestler.
Rocco Lore, a standout from Yorktown High School and a recent section champion, is currently facing a challenging situation. The Empire Wrestling Academy posted a poignant story about the Lore family on Instagram, which Starocci promptly shared on his social media, remarking, “Great kid I got to meet last summer. Really sad what happened to him and his family. Let’s help support.”
Recognizing the struggles faced by others, Starocci expresses genuine concern for Rocco and his family amid these challenging circumstances. One of the images in the Instagram post featured the Penn State wrestler alongside the Lore brothers. Dominick Ricciardi created their GoFundMe page, which read, “Tragically and unexpectedly, the Lore boys’ (Frankie, Rocco and Luca) father, Frank Lore, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on February 23rd.”
In a devastating turn of events for the two children, just days later, Rocco found himself admitted to the hospital. He is now in the ICU, fighting a serious undiagnosed illness compounded by complications from a chest infection. According to Ricciardi, who refers to Rocco as his “nephew” on the GoFundMe page, the family is facing a challenging period, and the duration of the wrestler’s hospital stay remains uncertain. Additionally, Rocco is set to compete in his NYS wrestling championship this weekend, and it remains to be seen whether he will make it to the match.
Returning to Starocci, he also weighed in on the social media post to raise awareness, stating, “Prayers up .” In light of the overwhelming support, Rocco Lore has shared a message expressing gratitude, stating, “Thank you .” While many wrestling enthusiasts may view Starocci solely as a formidable competitor on the mat, his influence extends beyond his dominance, as he continues to inspire countless individuals through his remarkable performances.
Carter Starocci being the guiding light of his teammates
Recall the previous season when an injury disrupted his flawless campaign, causing Carter Starocci to forfeit his chance at the Big Ten Championship? Indeed, even if he later clinched the NCAA championship, his record stood at 17-2. What was the coach’s response to the injury?
“He wanted to wrestle the whole tournament and was planning on wrestling the tournament. It is really tough for him. He’s having a hard time about this. He’d wrestle if both of his legs were hurt. He’s just so competitive. He’s pretty upset, but there’s just no reason, when he meets the criteria to get an at-large (bid), to put himself in a position to set himself back. He’s not happy, with me, but that’s why he’s Carter Starocci,” remarked Cael Sanderson. This assertion clearly highlights the commitment of the Penn State wrestler to his craft.
As of this season, Starocci remains undefeated with a record of 18-0. The key competitions are approaching, and he feels motivated to pursue that fifth NCAA championship. Do you recall his remarks at the beginning of the season? “You can’t let winning affect who you are, you just remain driven to perfection. Most people when they get there, they lose some of that drive, they get satisfied. Success is not continuum, it’s momentary and unless you keep doing all of the things you have done but even more so, to continue to improve, and get better!” stated the Penn State wrestler.
This specific mindset of Starocci elevates not just his own performance, but also that of his team. He undoubtedly inspires many around him, as his dominance positions him among the most significant wrestlers in the history of college wrestling.
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