Would anyone else take Starocci over Zahid?

[Hammerlock3]

I assume I'm in the minority on this but I'd still take Starocci over Zahid. I'm a lifelong Zahid hater so you can take my opinion as pre-salted. 

[nhs67]

I assume that because this is in the International Forum, you mean in Men's Freestyle.

Do you mean right now, or for 2028, or just in a generalized sense?

[Truzzcat]

All of carters matches at trials were within the margins. Now that is how he wrestles but its hard to say there is any separation from the field for him like there seems to be with kyle and Zahid. From there you look at what Zahid did at worlds where he separated himself again and its hard for me to entertain Carter vs Zahid.

[bnwtwg]

I'll take the world champ who didn't allow a point but I'm biased

[Lucho]

I haven't watched much of Starocci but from what I've seen from Zahid this year he is a monster at 86kg. He is too big and strong for everyone in this weight class imo. Unless Carter Starocci is a Kadiev level talent I don't think he can beat Zahid in freestyle, folkstyle yeah but I don't watch it so I wouldn't know. Also does anyone know how much Zahid's walk around weight is? There is no way he is anything under 95-100 kg he looks huge for 86 even with the cut.

[Hammerlock3]

41 minutes ago, Lucho said:

I haven't watched much of Starocci but from what I've seen from Zahid this year he is a monster at 86kg. He is too big and strong for everyone in this weight class imo. Unless Carter Starocci is a Kadiev level talent I don't think he can beat Zahid in freestyle, folkstyle yeah but I don't watch it so I wouldn't know. Also does anyone know how much Zahid's walk around weight is? There is no way he is anything under 95-100 kg he looks huge for 86 even with the cut.

Well I got a hot take here, Starocci is not that talented. 

[Hammerlock3]

8 hours ago, nhs67 said:

I assume that because this is in the International Forum, you mean in Men's Freestyle.

Do you mean right now, or for 2028, or just in a generalized sense?

i mean next year to make the world team. 

[Hammerlock3]

5 hours ago, bnwtwg said:

I'll take the world champ who didn't allow a point but I'm biased

stunning and brave

[bnwtwg]

Just now, Hammerlock3 said:

stunning and brave

No that was the performance Zahid put on last month en route to becoming a world champion. Starocci couldn't even pull off gold at B level age group worlds at the same age Zahid was already winning senior world ranking tourneys. Good clickbait though! #weare (leaving PSU and training the guy who will keep Starocci off the team)

[Hammerlock3]

8 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

No that was the performance Zahid put on last month en route to becoming a world champion. Starocci couldn't even pull off gold at B level age group worlds at the same age Zahid was already winning senior world ranking tourneys. Good clickbait though! #weare (leaving PSU and training the guy who will keep Starocci off the team)

clickbait? Do you even know what that is?

Edited Friday at 11:46 PM by Hammerlock3

[Truzzcat]

3 hours ago, Lucho said:

I haven't watched much of Starocci but from what I've seen from Zahid this year he is a monster at 86kg. He is too big and strong for everyone in this weight class imo. Unless Carter Starocci is a Kadiev level talent I don't think he can beat Zahid in freestyle, folkstyle yeah but I don't watch it so I wouldn't know. Also does anyone know how much Zahid's walk around weight is? There is no way he is anything under 95-100 kg he looks huge for 86 even with the cut.

I do not think he cut much at all to make 92kg so I am guessing he walks around about 95kg. He was wrestling 174/184 in college. I think his super long legs make his upper body seem bigger but in reality his legs are pretty skinny which I think keeps his weight down. Definitely a big dude though.

[okokzach]

35 minutes ago, Truzzcat said:

I do not think he cut much at all to make 92kg so I am guessing he walks around about 95kg. He was wrestling 174/184 in college. I think his super long legs make his upper body seem bigger but in reality his legs are pretty skinny which I think keeps his weight down. Definitely a big dude though.

Zahid definitely looks bigger than he is. He said in an interview a couple weeks ago he only cuts about 8 pounds 

[nhs67]

4 hours ago, Hammerlock3 said:

i mean next year to make the world team. 

No, I think Zahid wins.

He will have a bye to Final X.

Starocci has a slew of guys to beat at 86 KG just to make Final X.  Potentially even two that have recent wins over him in Hidlay and Dake.

[bnwtwg]

5 hours ago, Lucho said:

I haven't watched much of Starocci but from what I've seen from Zahid this year he is a monster at 86kg. He is too big and strong for everyone in this weight class imo. Unless Carter Starocci is a Kadiev level talent I don't think he can beat Zahid in freestyle, folkstyle yeah but I don't watch it so I wouldn't know. Also does anyone know how much Zahid's walk around weight is? There is no way he is anything under 95-100 kg he looks huge for 86 even with the cut.

Even college hittin' the slopes Zahid would have beat Starocci in folk (and free). He was that dude.

[Lucho]

7 hours ago, Hammerlock3 said:

Well I got a hot take here, Starocci is not that talented. 

Isn't he a 5 time NCAA champ? COVID year aside winning 4 NCAA indicates he is a very very high level wrestler.

[Lucho]

5 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

I do not think he cut much at all to make 92kg so I am guessing he walks around about 95kg. He was wrestling 174/184 in college. I think his super long legs make his upper body seem bigger but in reality his legs are pretty skinny which I think keeps his weight down. Definitely a big dude though.

Yeah I think its his body type that makes him look huge tbh. Like comparing him to Ghasempour its like they are 2 weight classes apart. When I saw him wrestle Rahmani earlier this year was when I realised how big he actually is.

[The Kid]

5 hours ago, Lucho said:

Isn't he a 5 time NCAA champ? COVID year aside winning 4 NCAA indicates he is a very very high level wrestler.

High level wrestler who won't ever be a Senior level champion or medalist.  He most likely will be jv.

He couldn't beat old man Dake.  Who was rag dolled by Zahid.

[shiraz321]

Valencia has the same body type as Amouzad. Just the 86 version. 

[Hammerlock3]

11 hours ago, Lucho said:

Isn't he a 5 time NCAA champ? COVID year aside winning 4 NCAA indicates he is a very very high level wrestler.

I didn't say he wasn't a high level wrestler, its like you changed what I said so you could contradict it.

I said he's not that talented, meaning compared to guys like Zahid, Yianni, Nickal, Ono....I think Mesenbrink is more of a raw talent. 

Edited Saturday at 06:47 PM by Hammerlock3

[de4856]

Starocci is a tremendous talent but I think Zahid has hit a higher level this year. 

[Lucho]

On 10/19/2025 at 5:45 AM, Hammerlock3 said:

I didn't say he wasn't a high level wrestler, its like you changed what I said so you could contradict it.

I said he's not that talented, meaning compared to guys like Zahid, Yianni, Nickal, Ono....I think Mesenbrink is more of a raw talent. 

No my point is there is no way you can be a 5 time NCAA champ without being incredibly talented. Raw talent doesn't mean anything if you don't win titles. If you don't rate Starocci that's fine I personally don't think he will amount to much in freestyle but to say he isn't talented and in the similar tier as other elite folk guys is delusional. What I do agree is that Mesenbrink and the other young 74kg guys that the US have are really really good and will definitely be world/olympic medal contenders in the future.

[GV4444]

As a PSU fan I have to say, no way Carter beats Zahid.   The current version of Zahid may be the best p4p wrestler on the planet.  The current version of Carter is a freestyle work in progress.

[BaldHeadedShannon]

On 10/17/2025 at 9:59 PM, Truzzcat said:

I do not think he cut much at all to make 92kg so I am guessing he walks around about 95kg. He was wrestling 174/184 in college. I think his super long legs make his upper body seem bigger but in reality his legs are pretty skinny which I think keeps his weight down. Definitely a big dude though.

I could be wrong but I believe the year he went up to 92 he weighed in at worlds very light.

[alex1fly]

15 hours ago, Lucho said:

No my point is there is no way you can be a 5 time NCAA champ without being incredibly talented. Raw talent doesn't mean anything if you don't win titles. If you don't rate Starocci that's fine I personally don't think he will amount to much in freestyle but to say he isn't talented and in the similar tier as other elite folk guys is delusional. What I do agree is that Mesenbrink and the other young 74kg guys that the US have are really really good and will definitely be world/olympic medal contenders in the future.

You have to translate things that Hammer says. When he says "Starocci can beat Zahid but Starocci isn't very talented and how dare you misquote me" what he MEANS is "I am bored/confused please talk to me" :)

[MPhillips]

24 minutes ago, alex1fly said:

what he MEANS is

This from someone who has NEVER seen a wrestler in tights...