Starocci-Keckeisen will be featured NWCA All-Star Match

Photo: Both Penn State’s Carter Starocci (left) and Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen won NCAA titles at different weights last March in Kansas City. They will meet this Saturday at the NWCA All-Star Classic in State College, Pa. (Tony Rotundo photos)

The 184-pound weight class in NCAA Division I wrestling should rank among the toughest this winter and both Penn State’s Carter Starocci and Northern Iowa’s Parker Keckeisen will be out to prove that this Saturday in State College, Pa., for the 2024 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic.

For both Starocci, a four-time NCAA champ for the Nittany Lions and the Panthers’ Keckeisen are both defending national champions and will meet in the featured bout in this year’s event, which begins at 7 p.m. (ET) in PSU’s Rec Hall.

Starocci is moving up from 174 pounds and ranked No. 1 in WIN’s rankings, while Keckeisen, the 2024 champ at 184, is rated No. 2 as this year’s Classic will also mark each wrestler’s first match this season.

Among the other more notable Div. I matchups will see Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez, the defending national champ at 141, take on Penn State’s Beau Bartlett in a rematch of last year’s NCAA final, won by the Buckeye, 4-1.

The 2024 All-Star Classic will feature 16 total match-ups involving college wrestlers, including five in women’s freestyle and a meeting between Div. II’s Derek Blubaugh (Indianapolis) and Div. III’s Massoma Endene (Wartburg) at 197 pounds.

WIN Magazine will be in State College to provide live highlights over social media sites and will feature the event in its upcoming issue, printed on Nov. 23. Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe.

2024 NWCA All-Star Classic Match Order