Freestyle, collegiate, and scholastic wrestling are gaining significant attention lately. In pop culture, the Amazon MGM Studios film Unstoppable, which tells the remarkable story of Anthony Robles and features stars like Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, and Bobby Cannavale, premiered on Prime Video last month after a December theatrical run. In the competitive arena, FloSports is hosting the biggest FloWrestling Night In America event yet this Wednesday, with Shane Sparks also playing a key role in both the film and the event.
Sparks, a leading wrestling play-by-play broadcaster since 2011, has contributed to various platforms including Big Ten Network, ESPN, and Flo. He was selected for the play-by-play role in Unstoppable, a film based on Robles’ 2012 autobiography that chronicles Robles’ inspiring NCAA Division I championship run despite being born with one leg. On Wednesday, Sparks will also commentate the FloWrestling Night In America event starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, featuring U.S. world champion Spencer Lee facing Japan’s reigning Senior and U-20 world champion Masanosuke Ono. He expressed his amazement at the current state of wrestling in a recent interview with Awful Announcing, stating, “The sport just continues to grow. Technology has been a game changer, and FloWrestling plays a significant role in this growth.”
Sparks highlighted his belief that FloWrestling Night In America has immense potential. He emphasized the importance of striving for improvement and innovation within the sport: “It’s such a privilege and an honor to be a part of it. I’m glad I’m involved now because I think it’s going to explode. We did well this year, and it’s just the beginning.” Regarding his experience working on Unstoppable, Sparks reflected, “That was one of the coolest experiences of my life. We filmed it over three days in Los Angeles. I actually had my own trailer, which was a lot of fun.”
One unforgettable moment during filming was conversing with Don Cheadle, which felt surreal to Sparks. He also enjoyed interacting with actor Giovanni Ribisi, whom he admires from movies like Boiler Room. Sparks fondly recalled a moment when Ribisi remembered where he hailed from, saying, “When do you go back to Wisconsin?,” which made Sparks feel appreciated. Interestingly, for Unstoppable, Sparks narrated alongside veteran actor Andrew Borba, which he found worked excellently, leading to a lasting friendship.
Sparks highlights that Robles’ story is compelling enough to resonate with a broader audience, emphasizing, “Anthony’s got a great story. It’s really cool to be part of something like this.” Unfortunately, the film’s premiere was canceled due to the Los Angeles wildfires, a setback Sparks accepted with understanding of the broader context of the situation. Reflecting on the experience, he noted, “It felt like a small disappointment in light of what people were dealing with.” Overall, he remarked, “Being involved with that movie was incredible. Years from now, I’ll look back and think, ‘That was cool. I didn’t have that on my bingo card.’”
Sparks believes that portraying the perseverance demonstrated by Robles can encourage interest in wrestling and highlighted its inherent challenges: “To have a wrestling movie in the spotlight like that can’t hurt. It’s a great story of commitment and determination. Wrestling is a tough sport, and I hope it inspires some to give it a try.” He acknowledges that not everyone will connect with wrestling, a realization he’s come to terms with: “As I grow older, I’ve accepted that. If you want to try it, that’s great. It could do wonderful things for you, but it may not be for everybody.”
Nevertheless, Sparks sees great potential for the sport to grow, especially as women’s wrestling has gained notable traction recently. “The explosion of girls and women’s wrestling across high schools in the past five years is monumental. I witnessed Helen Maroulis win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which was an incredible moment.” He’s excited about the current edition of FloWrestling Night In America, believing it will impress wrestling enthusiasts at all levels: “The level of wrestling we are going to see is unparalleled, featuring familiar U.S. stars and a formidable Japanese team that recently excelled at the [2024 Paris] Olympic Games.”
Sparks believes the full lineup will impress: “This could be one of the greatest nights. The format combines experienced athletes, upcoming stars, and big names like Seth Gross, a world team member, and Nathan Tomasello, a national champion, creating an exciting mix.” He appreciates that the event showcases contests across senior, college, and high school levels, bringing together Olympic medalists, world champions, and a tremendous level of talent.
The upcoming event, taking place in Coralville, Iowa’s Xstream Arena, is expected to draw a passionate crowd, as wrestling is deeply embedded in Iowa’s culture. Sparks expressed excitement about hosting FloWrestling Night In America in such a significant venue. “We’re building a great platform, and this is the perfect storm for an extraordinary and unique event.” He equates the caliber of talent at this event to what he experienced during the 2016 Rio Olympics, remarking, “Witnessing the best of the best is a true jackpot.”
Sparks is thankful for his current role in high-level wrestling and reflects on his journey: “I lost my final match 31 years ago today. Thinking back, if you had told me at 18, ‘This sport will give you this much in life,’ I would have been amazed. Wrestling has truly changed my life.”
