Penn State's Carter Starocci, the #1 ranked three-time defending NCAA champion, injury defaulted in the opening second of his quarterfinal bout at the 2024 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. 

174: No. 1 Carter Starocci takes an inj. def. loss to Andrew Sparks MN at :01#PSUwr

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 9, 2024

Minnesota's Andrew Sparks received the win and advanced to the semifinals.

Starocci, the #1 seed, will drop into the consolation round, where he will likely injury default again, giving him two losses that will be factored into his NCAA seed. Starocci will not automatically qualify for the NCAAs, however, he is certain to receive an at-large bid. 

Starocci suffered an injury in the final sequence of his last bout of the regular season in a dual meet against Edinboro. Starocci had already locked up the tech-fall against Joey Arnold when he injured his right leg going for the fall. 

Carter had a thick sleeve over his right knee and was walking without a noticeable limp in the Xfinity Center where the Big Ten Championships are being held. 

To read Coach Sanderson's thoughts on Staorric's injury and the rest of the Nittany Lions leading up to the postseason, check out are last two dispatches from our Nittany Lion insider, (March 1st's filing and March 4th's filing).