“Your three-time California state champion, your winner at 150 lbs from Gilroy High School!” FloWrestling’s announcement echoed through the arena, sealing Daniel Zepeda’s legacy as one of California’s most dominant wrestlers. But beyond the roar of the crowd and the gold medal draped around his neck, Zepeda carried something else.

While Bo Bassett’s camp and wrestling historians proudly uphold his undefeated record, there’s an asterisk lingering in the minds of those who witnessed Who’s Number One in 2023. That night, under the bright lights, Zepeda defeated Bassett. And now Zepeda has again walked off the mat with a dominating victory, proving again that he goes toe-to-toe with the 17-year-old phenom!

Daniel Zepeda has maintained his undefeated record in wrestling competitions. The Gilroy senior achieved his third consecutive state championship victory on Saturday night at Mechanic’s Bank Arena in Bakersfield. The championship match provided a challenge because Zepeda faced a tougher opponent in his final bout. Alias Raby, rose to fame from the Northern Section ahead of this showdown. Would Zepeda’s reign come to an end?

For a moment, the answer seemed uncertain. A slick takedown from Raby in the first round excited the spectators. Was an upset brewing? Zepeda, however, didn’t panic. The fight continued at 3-1 and then came the second period, where strategy took over. Zepeda chose bottom, Raby let him up, and suddenly, it was 3-2. Another attempt from Raby did not change the balance. Zepeda had sensed the upcoming move and perfectly counterattacked his opponent. He succeeded in obtaining the takedown that gained him the 5-3 score.

Another state title cementing his legacy on the mat. And this has again reminded us how he handed a rare defeat to Bo Bassett in the past, fueling what could become one of wrestling’s most compelling rivalries.

A rivalry in the making

From the moment the whistle blew, Daniel “Sauce” Zepeda came after Bo Bassett with zero hesitation. The U17 world champion was used to setting the pace, but this time, it was Zepeda who dictated the action in 2023. A wild opening scramble ended with Zepeda coming out on top for the first takedown, and before Bassett could reset, he found himself in even deeper trouble. After Bassett attempted an escape move, Zepeda secured three near-fall points by forcing his opponent to turn onto his back, thus increasing the score to 6-0. Well, he clearly possesses the Sauce element!

Bassett, who is known for his relentless pace, worked to wear Zepeda down, but the Gilroy senior refused to break. Another scramble, another counter, and another crucial reversal, and by the end it was 11-6. By the third period, Zepeda had completely matched Bassett’s tempo. A slick snap-down and go-behind extended his lead to 15-6, and as the final scramble unfolded, Zepeda sealed the deal. This definitely raised questions amongst many until Bassett took his revenge in 2024.

Following his defeat, Bassett has secured several victories, including Super 32, Ironman, and Powerade. With each win, his grip on the No. 1 ranking has tightened, and the anticipation for a rematch with Zepeda grew. On September 29, the script flipped. Bassett had his redemption. A 12-6 victory over the only wrestler to put a blemish on his record. The rivalry has always been there, and with both wrestlers at the top of their game, it’s only getting more intense.

We definitely want to see them on the mat again. Zepeda has already proven he can take down the nation’s best, and another dominant win would only position his status in the sport. Share in the comments what you think about this.