Starocci

One of the most accomplished wrestlers in NCAA history will be trying his hand at a different sport this Saturday.

Carter Starocci, who was a five-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion at Penn State, will step into the ring at the Scorchin Boxing Club on Beale Ave. Saturday afternoon to engage in his first amateur boxing match as part of what is known as the Clash on the Rails event.

Doors open at noon and boxing begins at 1 p.m. for the 14-card amateur event, in which Starocci’s fight with Nacor Eloise will serve as the headliner.

Scorchin Boxing Club head coach Jeremiah Witherspoon said that Starocci, who trains in State College, and Eloise, who trains at the Sugar Ray Leonard gymnasium in Maryland, will be two of several regional and/or out-of-state fighters on Saturday’s schedule.

“He’s pretty popular,” Witherspoon said of Starocci. “It’s a good look (for the event). I haven’t seen him (fight) personally, but a couple of the fighters from our gym went up to State College to spar with him a few times.

“Of course, it’s a different transition from wrestling to boxing, but they say that he is (a) pretty decent (boxer), and that he’s getting better.”

This year’s show is the first of its kind in Altoona in a couple of years, and includes fighters who are teenagers, adults, and one Masters Division (age 40 plus) boxer.

“We have fighters coming in from all over the state, and Maryland,” Witherspoon said. “It’s been about two years since we’ve had a show here, so it’s exciting to be bringing boxing back to Altoona.”

Tickets for the event are $20 for adults and $13 for students, and can be purchased on a walk-in basis at the Scorchin Boxing Club, 2927 Beale Ave., or by calling Witherspoon at (814)-660-4928.