If you thought the Penn State vs. Iowa rivalry couldn’t get any more intense, think again. This year, the wrestling drama hit another level, especially with all the hype around a potential Carter Starocci vs. Gabe Arnold showdown. Arnold came in hot, calling out Starocci with that bold statement: “Your head is mine. Book it.” Fans were losing it, thinking we were about to see the most epic battle at 184 pounds. But… plot twist.

The match went down on January 31st at the Bryce Jordan Center and Penn State nailed it with a 30-8 win, moving to 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, winning their 66th straight dual. Now the twist is, in their 184-pound bout, instead of Arnold stepping into the spotlight with Starocci, Angelo Ferrari—AJ Ferrari’s younger brother—got the nod to face Starocci.

Yeah, that Ferrari. But… it didn’t exactly go according to plan. Starocci showed exactly why he’s the guy to beat, dominating Angelo Ferrari from start to finish and walking away with a solid 3-1 decision. Ferrari, to his credit, kept it close, but Starocci’s defense was just too strong. The kid’s got potential, but it wasn’t enough to break through Carter’s wall. But what happened to Gabe Arnold? Fans were hyped for that showdown, but Arnold didn’t step onto the mat. Iowa had some strategies up their sleeves. Good move; otherwise, who knows what could have been the price to provoke Carter Starocci like that!

Then, we got the tea from Christian Pyles (@CPyles8), Content Director at FloWrestling, who dropped this on X:
“Tom Brands said after the Penn State dual that they will use 5 dates for Angelo Ferrari, but Gabe Arnold will be their 184 this year. Coach Brands said they’re load managing Gabe so he feels good down the stretch.” So there it is. No, Arnold wasn’t injured—he’s just being “load-managed” for the postseason.

It’s a move to keep him fresh and avoid burning him out before the big dance. But, like, was it really a good call to skip out on this high-profile match? Fans are split, but one thing’s for sure—Starocci isn’t waiting around for anyone. He’s already focused on locking in that fifth NCAA title.

The Nittany Lions went crazy on the Hawkeyes

Now, let’s talk about how this whole thing went down at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Penn State vs. Iowa duel was everything fans could’ve wanted and more. With the arena packed to the brim, the Nittany Lions came out strong and showed exactly why they’re the team to beat this season. Penn State cruised to a 30-8 victory, maintaining their perfect record at 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the Big Ten, extending their streak to 66 consecutive dual wins. Meanwhile, Iowa’s first loss of the season dropped them to 9-1.

In this dual, the Lions flexed their depth and power from the start. Luke Lilledahl set the tone, tech-falling Joey Cruz 22-6 at 125 pounds, and Beau Bartlett kept it rolling with a 7-3 decision over Cullan Schriever at 141 pounds. But when it was Shayne Van Ness’s turn at 149 pounds, he came through with a dominant 17-6 major over Iowa’s Kyle Parco, letting everyone know Penn State meant business.

The energy only built as the dual went on. Tyler Kasak showed off his skills with a 5-2 win over Iowa’s Jacori Teemer, continuing his streak, while Mitchell Mesenbrink followed with a 19-4 tech fall over Mikey Caliendo at 165 pounds. Then, Levi Haines stepped up, taking a solid 10-3 win over Patrick Kennedy at 174 pounds to keep the momentum on Penn State’s side.

But the match everyone was watching was 184 pounds. Carter Starocci, the undisputed king in this weight class, faced off against Angelo Ferrari in what turned into another showcase of Starocci’s unmatched defensive abilities. Ferrari gave it his all, but in the end, Starocci’s relentless control and defense were too much. Starocci took the win 3-1, maintaining his dominant position in college wrestling.

Then, we had Greg Kerkvliet wrapping things up at 285 pounds with a 12-2 major decision over Ben Kueter, putting the finishing touch on Penn State’s 30-8 dominance. While Iowa fought hard, the sheer firepower and tactical brilliance of Penn State were on full display. It was a reminder of just how deep and focused the Nittany Lions are heading into the postseason, with Starocci already eyeing that fifth NCAA title while Iowa figures out their next moves.