Nittany Lion wrestler Carter Starocci has been awarded the 2025 Big Ten Jesse Owens Male Athlete of the Year. He was selected from a pool representing each of the 18 Big Ten members’ Male Athletes of the Year. Meanwhile, USC’s JuJu Watkins received the honor for Female Athlete of the Year.
Starocci, hailing from Erie, Pennsylvania, is the fourth male athlete from Penn State to earn this distinction, with three prior winners being wrestlers. Luis Vargas in men’s gymnastics first achieved this recognition in 2005, followed by wrestlers David Taylor in 2014 and Bo Nickal in 2019.
Starocci concluded his collegiate career as a historic figure, becoming the first NCAA Division I wrestler to secure five NCAA National Championships. He triumphed over Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen in Philadelphia to win his fifth consecutive title. The Nittany Lions secured their 12th NCAA title under head coach Cael Sanderson during Starocci’s tenure, marking their 13th overall and achieving four straight championships for the third time since Sanderson joined Penn State. Starocci finished his season undefeated with a record of 26-0.
Over his career, he amassed a record of 104-4 with significant victories including 20 falls and multiple technical falls and major decisions. His achievements include being a Hodge Trophy finalist, receiving honors such as the NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Wrestler for 2025, and earning titles like Big Ten Wrestler of the Year.
The list of past recipients for both male and female athletes includes prominent figures across various sports disciplines within the Big Ten Conference.
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