Carter Starocci vs. Mekhi Lewis: 2022 NCAA wrestling championship final (174 lb.)

[@j.armijomusic]

Glad they got D.C on commentary. Makes collegiate wrestling feel more modern

[@fmulder6564]

Except when they are talking about the match and DC starts rambling about their singlets. Funny how both the other announcers completely ignored him and changed the subject immediately.

[@lexingtonconcord8751]

Lewis, never hang your head over this Both of you were absolutely brilliant 👏🏻👏🏻

[@jeffdarnell7942]

They were. Great match, and I knew it would be!!

[@JS45678]

Match of the night, absolutely incredible.

[@The495marauder]

Which match?

[@xenonmaster6668]

@@The495marauder this one and it’s implied 💀

[@ianshue2890]

By all means best final of the night. Two National champions going at it. But I hate the new overtime rules. Don’t let the match be decided on riding time, let the boys wrestle and let them decide who’s the winner

[@iangorsen9718]

100% agree the way the match ended is B.S.

[@jeffreygerard8953]

It’s totally ridiculous. Rules cater more toward referees and making sure they can beat traffic and eat at the table with their wives and kids.

[@zaynes5094]

@@jeffreygerard8953 If anything the rule should be that the first down who gets out the quickest wins automatically. So, if Mekhi got out in 19 seconds and Carter out in under 12, then Carter wins by time advantage alone. Or, they do it by whoever escapes first. So it would be more meaningful for the top guy to ride the bottom for the full 30 seconds. Easier said than done.

[@jameshouchins9469]

One of the most exciting low scoring matches I've ever watched! Great wrestling!

[@mannygarcia759]

Pulling for Lewis, but Carter had plenty of fuel in the tank. Penn State wrestlers train hard and in amazing shape. So glad Lewis continued to wrestle this year! Awesome match guys!

[@zaynes5094]

Nah, looking back at this, he was not scoring on Starocci at all that night. He's also 0-2 against him all-time so doesn't help. Starocci is also a beast at freestyle and Greco-Roman.

[@HaircHair]

One of the first people I ever practiced with when I started traveling for practice, Mekhi Lewis. Going a couple towns over I’d practice with him in Franklin, NJ. At the time I think I was actually in control. 10 years later, I am wrestling in my state regional semi-finals. Guess who? Mekhi Lewis. Though this time I was immediately put under pressure. I could not keep up with the movement, speed, power that was coming at me. I was almost completely helpless. I ended up cranking my ankle (as if it mattered anyway at that point) and pretty obviously lost. My career would come to an end after the next match, Mekhi would go on to win the state championship. I am so proud to know that someone I had wrestled with for years is now at the top of the game. Mekhi, you’ve worked for it and deserve it. If you happen to read this, let Mama Lewis know the Cooke family says hello and congrats being one of the best not only in the country but the world. You may not remember me, which is extremely understandable so maybe she can help you remember. Anyways, keep pushing and take it in the next big one. I anticipate more and more from you, so keep that head up and keep moving forward like you have been!

[@Ivan-nd6qy]

Drilled with him in my high school. Dude is an absolute unit.

[@HaircHair]

@@Ivan-nd6qy word up! I’m from Pway, maybe we saw eachother at some point across the mats lmao small world. But yes super unit, and great guy. Only hope the best for him and his family!

[@ericcampbell6261]

Carter musta been studying Mekhi tapes because he knew Mekhi likes to reattack. That's where he makes his money. And Carter was full throttle. An epic match.

[@jomama969]

Lewis has always been like that all the way back to upsetting Marinelli and Vincenzo Joseph. That’s just his style.

[@gerardo7616]

Not 100% on the rules, but Lewis lost because starocci had 16 more seconds of riding time? Seems like a bad way to decide a winner, why not just keep adding periods until one can takedown the other or can’t escape?

[@dominicsmith743]

It sounds like you just asked why there aren't unlimited overtimes until someone scores. At least from my understanding. Well there is a limited amount of TV time, other matches, and a limited amount of time they can use the arena. With how many overtime matches there are in this tournament every year, it would take way too long. Especially if refs are reluctant to call stalling. That would prolong the match even more. Then wrestlers would be even less willing to take any risks.

[@dillonmackay683]

@@dominicsmith743 old ot rules are better, Top and bottom if Top guy keeps bottom guy down he wins if Bottom guy escapes he wins

[@craigwhitaker6397]

If you like to ride the edges and wait until you have an opportunity to score, it will eventually bite you in the ... unless you're RBY

[@dominicsmith743]

@@dillonmackay683I'm not defending the current rules. I'm just saying that unlimited amount of overtimes wouldn't be the greatest idea.

[@aidenjaxlol]

@@craigwhitaker6397 lmfao! Agree that's how RBY does it

[@scottg6754]

Great match. The best of the finals. I wanted Lewis but felt privileged to watch two guys wrestle so hard and so well.

[@Warpig350]

Carter Starocci is amazing

[@georgesealy4706]

One heck of a match. Can't get any closer than that. Both of those guys are tremendous athletes.

[@tylerdeal6664]

3:56 I have no idea what the ref was doing to miss that takedown. What a battle, best final of the evening.

[@gordonmathis8170]

It was not a take down. Lewis's knee touched the mat just before his foot came down in bounds causing him to be out of bounds.

[@ChunkyLover420]

@@gordonmathis8170 His foot does not have to be down… It was still up in the air but inbounds over the mat… His foot was in balance the whole time

[@adezii1397]

@@gordonmathis8170 his foot needs to be in the cylinder not on the mat

[@judokaMike]

@@gordonmathis8170 this isn't football. Any part of the body is within the circle, you are still in bounds.

[@npierce14]

@@gordonmathis8170 invest in some glasses mate

[@jeffglanstein4489]

Excellent match. Both wrestlers showed their worth.

[@Aesir47]

This may be the only time I've said Starocci looks like the smaller guy

[@MrGuanYu1]

Kudos to Mekhi for digging deep to almost pull it off given that he was very obviously completely gassed going into OT. A lot of people break at that point but he powered through and almost came away with the W. Nothing to hang his head over with that effort.

[@zaynes5094]

Nah, looking back at this, he was not scoring on Starocci at all that night. He's also 0-2 against him all-time.

[@drewanderson2401]

@@zaynes5094 he quite literally was the first to score?....

[@anjelluna4150]

this is one of those matches where you want both wrestlers to win

[@wesker19908]

The possibilities of having a 2 parent home and a blessed upbringing in a safe neighborhood

[@npierce14]

Not true I had both and my dad was monster I would’ve done better without him

[@wesker19908]

@@npierce14 obviously I mean 2 great parents...

[@jordanbanks6655]

It has its advantages but no guarantees

[@jamalama5548]

So proud of Mekhi. He is a fine young man raised in a good family. The new rules suck. Mekhi will be back for sure and win another championship.

[@zaynes5094]

Not if Starocci and a bunch of other guys got something to say about it.

[@russellmullins1508]

I love it struck it has that dog game and he always keeps coming and he just simply finds a way to win it’s beautiful

[@larrywilcox5282]

15 seconds?! I am not feeling this new rule. I was very happy to see both make it to the finals. Starocci is awesome. So is Lewis. Being from NJ, I leaned heavy for Lewis. However, the edge goes to Starocci. The best workout wrestlers in the country are in the room with Starocci! Their match was the best of the night. Mr. Mekhi Lewis hold your head high. Congrats to Mr. Carter Starocci!

[@DiogenesLantern]

It eventually gets to this. Martinez beat Nolf in B1G, in Nolf's freshman year, after 6 OT sessions by a few seconds riding time. They have now simply reduced the pair of 1-minute neutrals to one two minute sessions, and the two riding sessions to one. I like this much better than the coin flip and one 30-second session.

[@zaynes5094]

@@DiogenesLantern And then we know what happened after IMar bumped up to 165, Nolf would go on to be untouchable in the 157 class and IMar, well he'd lose the upset of the season to Joseph.

[@gordonramsayd2651]

Starocci might be the first 5x NCAA champion in history

[@holdencawffle626]

How?

[@gordonramsayd2651]

@@holdencawffle626 because he has an extra year of eligibility because of the covid season

[@tommy3268]

This was a very very good match!

[@zekegaeta9169]

This was the match of the night. Absolutely epic. Can’t wait to see these two go at it one more time. Only thing I want to see different are the OT rules. Seems like a bad way to determine the outcome of a highly contested match

[@npierce14]

Example of two super elite guys very close in skill but overtime was made to find a winner even in weird circumstances such as 15 seconds of riding time

[@payton9815]

They did it for women's basketball because everyone is so interested in that

[@npierce14]

@@payton9815 what?

[@payton9815]

@@npierce14 all season long overtime was decided by points not time. So they changed it for women's basketball

[@jordanpowell228]

Having the champ champ dc calling these matches is brilliant. His enthusiasm for wrestling and mma is so infectious. And what a match! High iq wrestling

[@Vincentovich89]

Wrestling Aaron Brooks in practice every day certainly helped...

[@larrywilcox5282]

"Wrestling Aaron Brooks in practice every day certainly helped..." %1000 true!

[@zaynes5094]

This, looking back now with NCAAs coming quick for 2023, I think we could certainly be seeing this rematch in a few weeks. And it could very well be Mekhi Lewis getting his get-back against Starocci. But it could very well be that Starocci is fully prepared for him.

[@brettjern3264]

When they're this good and close in competition you sure hate to see either lose.

[@larrywilcox5282]

"When they're this good and close in competition you sure hate to see either lose..." So true.

[@Sam-tg6ee]

@@larrywilcox5282 why didn’t you just say so true? His comment is right there

[@chrissantiago7643]

Hate to see it man but they gave it all they had ❤ fireworks ncca is all about the upsets

[@jlstock_1]

Both Carter Starocci and Coach Tony Robie are from Erie PA

[@williammitchell9510]

Lewis will always have my respect

[@carlthompson7930]

Dc please do more amateur play by play

[@trekaychris6263]

WOW! Starocci and his brother looks just like their DAD!

[@holdencawffle626]

Not at all

[@205._.DAVID19]

“Best match award, is the 174-pound match between Carter Starocci of Penn State and Mekhi Lewis of Virginia Tech”

[@michaelswick4251]

Starocci scored on the escape first. That’s why he had choice.

[@dangerpowers4582]

Next to Dake vs. Taylor, in 2013, this is my favorite finals match. Unfortunately, Mekhi ostensibly went downhill after this, but then again, he's still a national champ.

[@joeygavadeels2784]

Hard-fought battle by both. WOW!

[@youarerightboss]

WE ARE PENN STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONS! 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🏆🤼

[@jeffdarnell7942]

Carter was wrestling to win at the end of the match. Lewis was trying not to lose at the end..

[@zaynes5094]

@Jeff Darnell That’s a great way of putting it, but man Starocci was my dark horse from last season and he still won it last year.

[@holdencawffle626]

You don't know that to a certainty

[@npierce14]

Yea he gassed out and when he. Does that his counterattack becomes deadliest but he knew carter was aware of that and was in a way baiting him and he didn’t have energy to do anything else in the off-season he needs to work on conditioning and find better training partners it’s absurd the amount of talent carter gets to roll around with and even more absurd how good Lewis is with not even a quarter of the Talent to train with

[@zaynes5094]

@@npierce14 Looking back now, months later, and just a few weeks before the NCAAS, I think Carter's deal should be get your takedown against Lewis early and do not let him back up. Do the same thing that Aaron Brooks did and Max Dean. Get your takedowns early, keep him down and ride him out until you've got a serious lead in riding time. He just couldn't keep Lewis down because Lewis is that strong. I still think Starocci would win the rematch, and I wasn't wrong, but NCAAs is very different.

[@tractioncontroloff9796]

DC is the best man for the job!

[@letsssgooo4618]

The future of usa 79kgs right here. Guess they’d both have to go 86 in Olympic years.

[@karlmanning2603]

Congrats to Starocci, but props to Lewis. Wrestling can be such a tough sport.

[@mistam80]

Match reminds me of the freestyle match with Tony Davis vs Jamill Kelly. Both great bouts!

[@stephenmoist623]

Carter will be a World Champion too. Seen him practice several times and he is outstanding and makes everyone else better too. Young man is unreal !!!!

[@Aesir47]

Cael is terrifying. "I'm hunting again next year."

[@vistatrista7]

Good job, Mekhi! 👏

[@PeterpanSyndrome_]

Great match. Seems like a strange way to win/lose something so important.

[@jsaxton128]

These new ot rules are just as bad as the NFL's ot rules

[@Mindyobidnessfr]

It should at least be different rules for the big tournaments cuz that is a terrible way to lose a final smh

[@jsaxton128]

@@Mindyobidnessfr personally, I think it should just be sudden victory until some scores but SV then ride out (excluding riding time) til someone takes the lead should be the way to go

[@zaynes5094]

@@jsaxton128 That was what it was, they should have it like that old one, but that takes too much time and there were 2 other matches that had to be done as well. Can't just let them keep going. So, they decided to make it more serious than it already is by making them have the Riding Time advantage for one wrestler, meaning that they had to have Lewis get a clean reversal or takedown to win it.

[@jsaxton128]

@@zaynes5094 lol, yea I know what Mekhi had to do, and really, you could let them keep going, the match isn’t gonna last forever

[@jamesbailey9386]

Great match ! With better conditioning I believe Lewis would have won, was gassing toward end of third period, it is a long hard tournament, they both gave all they had.

[@npierce14]

What hurts him is carter was way better guys to train and roll around with at practice for Christ sakes look at nittany lion wrestling club guys he has as well u got all time greats in that club that didn’t even wrestle for PSU who does Lewis really have you know? They even said ina interview. Cael rolls Around with carter and Aaron brooks at practice that’s elite 4 TIME NCAA CHAMP coaching ya know

[@zaynes5094]

@@npierce14 Lol. But seriously I do think Mekhi really couldn't have actually gotten one on Starocci. Starocci was much better on his feet, on top, and on getting out from bottom. He was also obviously watching film on Lewis.

[@Gymthingz]

Carter can be our first 5 timer.

[@christianmiguel9818]

great match

[@DefoqqMMA]

They are gonna be in the finals for 2 years against each other

[@cadenanderson645]

I didnt understand what was wrong with the overtime before. The winner shouldnt be decided by 7 seconds of riding time like we saw so many times this tournament. Were there really that many complaints about overtime like it was too long or something?

[@HuntGuy101]

16:18 DC caught slippin

[@samsonmanna9017]

I didn't catch that the first time

[@evanoconnor3781]

What happened

[@dubstepgamer04]

I thought I was the only one that caught that lol

[@GRiP1700]

Sounded like he was going to say "finals"

[@HuntGuy101]

To clear it up: he said they’ve won so many f*cking finals

[@haruthegr8t256]

that kinda looked like locked hands at the end but what a battle

[@thebestmike]

When stamina becomes the deciding factor

[@ChevelleMan317]

Great guys

[@marclou4228]

This was a fun one

[@m1xabl3]

I don’t understand why Lewis didn’t choose neutral and go for a takedown. He was going to have to anyways so he might as well have.

[@jwin814]

When? SV OT? you cant choose neutral.

[@xenonmaster6668]

@@jwin814 in college you can and you mean the tiebreakers

[@jwin814]

@@xenonmaster6668 Yes in Tie breakers you cannot choose Neutral is what i was trying to say

[@m1xabl3]

@@jwin814 I meant in the third, he would’ve had to go for the takedown anyways, and I think it would’ve worked out better for him

[@jwin814]

@@m1xabl3 it was tied 2 to 2, one escape and Lewis has the upper hand at 3-2, down was the correct choice

[@bowsonlyhuntingcompany2020]

OT rideout rules need to change. No more BS riding time.

[@ikenna1299]

this was crazy 🔥

[@BlackConnection337]

Wow what a war.

[@jamescraig1343]

Penn state wrestling is too religious for ESPN to recognize how good they are.

[@MvrzThaArtist_]

It’s about who got more heart frfr

[@jamescraig1343]

Why don't you show college wrestling on tv u show everything but college wrestling open up one of those BTN channels for wrestling

[@jeffdarnell7942]

Clear takedown by Lewis.

[@zaynes5094]

Jeff Darnell Doesn't matter when he still lost in OT.

[@s_rush5092]

RT rule is a dumb way to decide a final but Carter was the better wrestler anyway

[@dominicsmith743]

True he did push the pace and Lewis was playing the edge. Plus the only points he could score were counters to takedown attempts initiated by Starocci. Other than escapes.

[@larrywilcox5282]

Carter was better condition. Both were great. However, this new OT rule sucks!

[@xenonmaster6668]

@@larrywilcox5282 yes. Yes it does

[@jordanyousefi6747]

Why not an ultimate ride out?

[@mas2526]

Great match between two fine young men 🙏🏾💪🏾🙏🏾

[@sams9732]

Overtime rules needs to change/ or should be co/champs

[@aintdatsnipes177]

That might be the worst call in the history of college wrestling.

[@tropicalterrarium1742]

Riding time to decide an ncaa finals? Come on

[@MvrzThaArtist_]

Bro was deff in bounds smh

[@youarerightboss]

The better man and wrestler won, Starocci PSU

[@jaymerge9997]

NASTY SNAP

[@tahoeclay]

“I know I’m a better wrestler” Class

[@kolewinfield6048]

He’s a dog

[@chriscline6805]

It's called CONFIDENCE! He knew he was the better wrestler!

[@jouskehigaskita8835]

He's barely the better wrestler considering he only beat him by a point

[@zaynes5094]

@@jouskehigaskita8835 Commenting to you again, doesn't matter how much you beat the other guy either by pin, tech, or 1 point. And now he's beat him twice and it was close as well in that matchup. 5-3 with riding time. Lewis really needs to just learn to get his endurance up for that push at the end. Problem is, Starocci is just getting better and better. He's pretty much untouchable this season.

[@kevingeorge9727]

Two tough hombres.

[@adezii1397]

Kinda funny the flowrestling comments are all crying stalling from starocci abd its a stark difference in these comments guess everybody that follows flo are penn st haters

[@natemartinez2745]

They’re pathetic lol. I don’t know how they can cry stalling in any of these matches outside of the final 10 seconds (which every wrestler at this stage does when they have the lead).

[@adezii1397]

@@natemartinez2745 EXACTLY especially if you have no warnings why wouldnt you run in the last 10

[@vinmartinez3659]

Thanks Carter. One of the best!

[@dnative93]

Lewis won. Refs miss some calls

[@jacobsorge3632]

Funny I went to high school with starocci, a year or two under me.

[@drewanderson2401]

still 0 clue how starroci got to decide first position completely changes that match. Mekhi scored first... how does he not get to decide?

[@taylucas3939]

If Lewis doesn’t gas out he wins 100%

[@zaynes5094]

Everyone saying that. Simply not true. Starocci is just that good defensively. He's just simply that good. He knew Lewis would want to do reshoots and he wasn't biting on anything.

[@mspionage1743]

Definitely a TD at 4:15

[@robertpalatsky5017]

I hate this rule. Wish they'd just let them wrestle until someone gets a takedown or atleast not use riding time to determine a winner.

[@foemane3199]

not a fan of this rule. 15 seconds of riding time shouldnt decide a match especially one like this

[@larrywilcox5282]

I agree.

[@zaynes5094]

@@larrywilcox5282 Well I hated the old rule too. Too much resting on the bottom man to be able to escape and get out. Lewis should've gotten out sooner so that they could've gotten back to it. One snap takedown does not decide a match either. Starocci stayed with him and stayed pressing Lewis back and neutralized his fakes and re-shots he loves to do. Starocci is 17-0 right now and is unlikely to lose at the Big 10s, but if he does drop one, it won't matter. He's the 1 seed. Lewis is the 3rd seed. PSU also has 9 other guys who are beasts at their classes. All 9 are ranked in the top 15 btw. This is looking like another title for PSU wrestling.

[@asap_dijon]

not a fan of the riding time rule at the end.

[@von8298]

So i actually count four very big mistakes by the ref. ALL against Lewis. Lewis I thought no doubt was the better wrestler..two missed escapes. Missed locked hands. And a MAJOR mistake allowing carter the decision in OT.

[@natemartinez2745]

Lol you obviously have no idea what you’re talking about. Starocci scored first with the escape at the beginning of the 2nd period

[@aelfazzani]

Am I the only one that thinks they should keep wrestling till someone is decided? Losing to 15 secs riding time is weak. Let the men wrestle till one physically can’t period

[@jacobwilson7030]

Lewis looked like he was about 30 seconds away from that

[@nicksimone4786]

Stalled at the end

[@bartcampbell1730]

I hope you mean Lewis

[@matthurford9363]

Nick Lee is not from North Carolina

[@DTS_I]

Don’t think anybody at 174 is beating Starocci. The guy is a a STUD.

[@natemartinez2745]

He’s probably better than Mark Hall which is crazy to think about

[@DTS_I]

@@natemartinez2745 maybe, but mark had a guy just as good as him on the other side too, which is why he only got one title.

[@Gymthingz]

@@natemartinez2745 he could be the first 5 timer

[@jordanlegrand5596]

I think Mekhi can beat him

[@jouskehigaskita8835]

Mekhi maybe next year probably

[@johnthouin7080]

Such a dumb overtime win condition

[@travisnix594]

15:00 locked hands

[@kolewinfield6048]

Wrong

[@xenonmaster6668]

@@kolewinfield6048 it isn’t locked hands you’re right but looks damn close to it 😂

[@FightStrategistMMA]

Hell yea that’s locked hands

[@russelstephan6342]

The commentary sounds salty.

[@camdengalliway4931]

Penn state paying these refs 100%

[@mr.rhinehart410]

Is that DC

[@MvrzThaArtist_]

Chain WRESTLING

[@MvrzThaArtist_]

Nah that’s BS wtf VT should’ve had the OT choice to go in down position

[@205._.DAVID19]

They deferred probably

[@coleeandro6110]

Did anyone hear his post match interview? His arrogance is unfortunate. Furthermore, he referred to the fans as “all drunk”.