Speculation surrounding Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci has surged in recent weeks after his former teammate, Beau Bartlett, and his wife, Sydney Bartlett, alleged Starocci was the subject of a Penn State police investigation, per The Daily Collegian.
Beau and Sydney Bartletts allege they were made aware of a sexual assault allegation against Starocci, who is a five-time national champion, in late 2024, and that it wasn’t the first time Sydney had heard of it.
A woman who has requested anonymity alleges that Starocci messaged her on Instagram when she was 17 and he was 22, inviting her to his home and to use the Lorenzo Wrestling Center sauna multiple times, despite knowing her age.
After arriving at Penn State, the woman alleged that Starocci allowed her into the wrestling team’s locker room and sauna more than once.
“He had groomed me to feel comfortable with him,” she said. “The whole experience feels extremely manipulating.”
The woman then said she met Starocci at his home during the fall semester, where he raped her twice.
“I didn’t (do) all the things I should’ve done to press charges against him because I was young and really scared. I didn’t want to accept what had happened.”
Other students and teammates have also come forward with stories of Starocci’s misconduct around campus, both with women and inappropriately touching his wrestling teammates.
“It’s a certain pervertedness that is just in every aspect of (Starocci’s) life,” Beau said. “Whether it’s with women, outside of the mat or on the mat with his teammates, it’s a problem.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.