It’s been quite some time since Bo Bassett has cemented himself as wrestling’s next big thing. And as if in direct testament to that, all the top college wrestling programs have been after him. And the 17-year-old’s recent decision to go to Iowa State has sent some major shockwaves. But not everyone welcomed this decision.
While fans debated the impact of NIL in his move, a 24-year-old Penn State wrestler took a pointed jab—without mentioning Bassett by name. The three-time NCAA champion didn’t hold back and delivered a sharp message on social media that quickly gained traction. And who was this veteran? Well, it was Carter Starocci who has made quite a name for himself as part of the Nittany Lions.
A post on X is going viral, and fans are also reacting both positively and negatively. Taking a jibe at Bassett, Carter wrote, “Don’t forget, fellas, you can’t buy a national title. Those are earned. Have a good night. 
” The debate over the college wrestling and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) rules is specifically linked to where varsity athletes such as Bo Bassett are concerned.
Don’t forget fellas, you can’t buy a national title . Those are earned . Have a good night .
— Carter Starocci (@carterstarocci) February 7, 2025
Although NIL helps to attract high-quality talents, the message in Starocci’s post is that money is not the only solution to winning titles. The most important thing to consider is hard work, skill, and consistency. Bassett fans are in support of him and sarcastically commented, “Yes, that is true. Even if NIL helps you recruit top wrestlers, you still have to earn the title. Let’s not pretend Penn State doesn’t do NIL, though.”
The rivalry between teams and wrestlers goes between their fans. The rivalry between Penn State and Iowa has been one of the fiercest and most historic rivalries in the NCAA. Both teams have consistently vied for supremacy at the NCAA Championships. While Bo Bassett and Carter Starocci have yet to face each other on the mat, their rivalry is simmering as Bassett joins Iowa, a program with a strong NIL presence that competes directly with Penn State.
Starocci, the NCAA champion three times, has been instrumental in reinforcing Penn State’s authority, but Iowa has always had a strong team, particularly with wrestlers like Spencer Lee, who have been pushing the team to success. During the 2023 NCAA, the battle between the two programs had new dimensions in the 2023 NCAA Championships when Penn State took the team title from Iowa, thus increasing the rivalry to get more recruits such as Bassett in the future.
Bo Bassett couldn’t take Bishop McCort’s revenge before he continued his college journey.
Bo Bassett’s high school wrestling career concluded with a poignant moment: despite his individual success, he couldn’t secure a team victory over Faith Christian Academy (FCA) in the PIAA finals. Bassett delivered a commanding 17-9 win against Max Stein in the 152-pound category, but FCA clinched the team title with a 34-25 victory.
The 17-year-old said with confidence that they must be looking forward to this title. But with the hint of defeating FCA, Bo Bassett also said, “I think getting them exposed to the Wyoming Sem match and the duals out in Oklahoma was very important. I know they’ve been looking forward to this since last year after we lost to them in the state final.”
He was looking forward to the PIAA title, but things didn’t work out his way. Looking ahead, Bassett has committed to the University of Iowa’s wrestling program, choosing the Hawkeyes over other top programs. The way he made up his mind was mainly due to his love for the program. Not to mention his respect for the wrestling culture of Iowa. You can also add to this the chance to train with his hero, Spencer Lee.
But before he starts his season in 2026, he has commitments for Bishop McCort High School. Though his revenge for PIAA is still in line, upcoming events will be another chance for him to thrive. As he transitions to collegiate wrestling, let’s see if he can bounce back there. Especially if we will be able to see Carter Starocci and Bo Bassett on the mat.
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