For years, Carter Starocci has been the face of Penn State wrestling: a three-time NCAA champion whose dominance is simply unquestioned. As the Nittany Lions prepare to battle the Iowa Hawkeyes, many would have thought he was going to be front and center in this highly anticipated showdown. But Big Ten Network analyst Shane Sparks sees things differently. In a stunning twist, Sparks said the most hyped match of the dual isn’t Starocci’s but rather a brawl in a whole different weight class.

Instead, Sparks listed the 197-pound matchup between Josh Barr and No. 1-ranked Stephen Buchanan as a more significant storyline than Starocci’s bout. And to some, that will come as a surprise because Barr is still establishing himself with the big dogs within collegiate wrestling while Buchanan has molded himself into arguably the most dominating force at the weight class.

“Perhaps the match I’m looking most forward to… 197, number one ranked Stephen Buchanan, the veteran, versus Josh Barr, who put up 22 points in a minute and 20 seconds. Barr and Buchanan-Friday night, I can’t wait,” Sparks said in his breakdown of the pre-match on the Big Ten Network. A quote that, with ease, managed to take a conversation regarding an upcoming dual and framed perhaps the defining moment for Penn State’s rising star.

Barr has been a big bright spot for the Nittany Lions so far this year, going unbeaten under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson. His constant conditioning and ability to score early and often make him a force to be reckoned with, even against a veteran like Buchanan. Sanderson has spoken glowingly about Barr’s rapid improvement, saying his conditioning and intensity continue to rise, which makes this a match that could reset expectations about Penn State’s depth beyond its established superstars.

While Carter Starocci will no doubt play his part in the dual outcome, Sparks’ framing of Barr’s match suggests it may be Penn State’s lineup depth that makes this the story of the night. Buchanan provides Barr with his toughest test to date, but if the young Penn State wrestler can respond to the challenge, it could prove a career-defining moment to date and one of the main talking points for the program going forward.

Sparks’ spotlight beyond Carter Starocci: Buchanan vs. Barr at 197 pounds and more

Sparsky’s emphasis on this match indicates that several battles outside of Starocci’s will be important in defining the dual. In addition to Barr vs. Buchanan, Sparsky also mentioned the 149-pound match between Shane Van Ness and Kyle Parco as a rematch from last year’s NCAA tournament. “These two met at the national tournament in 2023, and Van Ness came out on top,” Sparsky said. With both wrestlers continuing to improve, this could be another classic.

Weighing in at 157 pounds, Sparks highlighted the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country, Jacori Teemer, who will face one of the sport’s rising stars in Tyler Kasak, moving up from 149 pounds. Sparks noted Kasak’s strong comeback in the NCAA Tournament last season to make this an interesting test for top-ranked Teemer.

Another can’t-miss bout? Michael Caliendo against Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165 pounds. According to Sparks, Mesenbrink has beaten Caliendo all three times the two wrestlers have faced off, so this is a big test for the Penn State wrestler.

But even while Penn State superstars like Carter Starocci demand respect, it seems Sparks’ preview drove the point home: this dual is anything but about one wrestler. As the aforementioned bouts between Barr vs. Buchanan, Van Ness vs. Parco, Teemer vs. Kasak, and Caliendo vs. Mesenbrink would go to show, the showcase has many pivotal battles that could have some effect on national rankings and seedings for post-season competition. Sparks’s analysis has set it up so that the fans will be glued to what very well can be one of the most thrilling duals of the season.