The NCAA Wrestling Championships are slowly drawing to a close under the bright lights of the Wells Fargo Center. But if you thought Carter Starocci’s bid to earn an unprecedented 5th national title would be saved for the end, then you thought wrong. In move that has garnered quizzical looks among wrestling fans, it’s Gable Steveson who will be closing the show. But not everyone thought that was the right move, including Bo Nickal.
Bo Nickal, Penn State wrestling legend and rising UFC star, didn’t mince his words. Taking to X during the event, he mocked the NCAA’s choice in event structuring: “Here’s an idea for running an event… start the night with your most exciting, most anticipated match! Then build to your least competitive match at the end. The UFC and other sporting events do it wrong. Have your best match of the event on the prelims! Smart.”
Here’s an idea for running an event… start the night with your most exciting, most anticipated match! Then build to your least competitive match at the end. The ufc and other sporting events do it wrong. Have your best match of the event on the prelims! Smart.
— Bo Nickal (@NoBickal) March 22, 2025
Nickal’s jab, though not naming names directly, left little room for confusion. The match order, with Steveson headlining and Carter Starocci’s historic pursuit of a fifth title placed earlier, didn’t sit right with him—or many Penn State fans. To them, Starocci’s once-in-history milestone deserved the final spotlight.
Nickal’s frustration wasn’t about denying Steveson’s status. Rather, it was about missing the rare overarching narrative—a fifth NCAA title has never been done and likely never will again.
The NCAA faces heat despite Burroughs’ explanation
While Bo Nickal voiced disappointment, Olympic legend Jordan Burroughs offered a more diplomatic perspective. Citing internal ESPN crew discussions, Burroughs revealed that the broadcast team voted to headline with Gable Steveson because of his broader appeal.
“Wrestling fans know Carter, the world knows Gable,” Burroughs posted. He explained that Steveson’s Olympic gold medal, brief NFL stint, and WWE fame made him more recognizable to casual viewers tuning into the NCAA finals. Starocci on the other hand, was a bit more niche to casuals.
But Burroughs also praised Starocci’s feat, saying, “Carter’s 5th is epic.” In the same breath, he acknowledged that the complexity of the COVID eligibility year rules and the concept of five titles might not resonate with casual fans the same way Gable’s global recognition does.
Still, many—including Nickal—felt that legacy and history should have taken precedence. Starocci’s fifth title would be a never-before-seen accomplishment, while Steveson’s match, though dominant, is well, not as exciting.
In the end, both legends are sure to deliver on the mat. But the choice to finish with familiarity over history sparked a broader conversation—and Bo Nickal wasn’t about to let it slide.
Penn State secures historic team title before finals
While the debate over the main event dominated social media, Penn State made history again on the mat. Just minutes into the final day’s action, the Nittany Lions locked in their fourth consecutive team title and 12th in the last 14 years. Coach Cael Sanderson’s squad clinched the championship early Saturday morning, their 169 points rendering any other team mathematically out of reach.
That title-clinching moment came courtesy of a pin by Shayne Van Ness in a consolation match. It was a statement win that symbolized Penn State’s depth, with all 10 of their wrestlers earning All-American honors—the first team in NCAA history to do so with at least one finalist.
Three Nittany Lions are still alive for individual titles, including freshman Josh Barr and sophomore Mitchell Mesenbrink. But the spotlight is on Carter Starocci, who aims to cap his legendary career with an unprecedented fifth title.
To make it even more dramatic, his final opponent will be Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen, a reigning national champ with an undefeated season. Starocci had already edged him in a November exhibition match, but this will be the real test.
“For me, when that whistle blows, you’ve got to turn the kill switch on,” Starocci said on Friday. “And whoever is out there in front of you, that’s who you’ve got to take out.”
Win or lose, Starocci has already placed himself in the annals of NCAA wrestling lore. But the order of events has some, including Bo Nickal, wondering whether the NCAA missed a chance to give history its proper due.
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