Bishop McCort standout Bo Bassett is really making a name for himself in the wrestling world. This junior has been on fire, breaking records with the Crushers, snagging a PIAA championship, and even beating a former NCAA champ. Sure, he had a tough break at the U20 World Championships, where he lost to a Japanese wrestler despite being just 17. But Bo isn’t letting that slow him down. USA Wrestling recently posted a video of him on X, captioned, “Bo Bassett is ready for the next World Championship so he can dominate.” It’s clear he’s more determined than ever to come back stronger and claim his spot at the top.

In the video, Bo Bassett shared his future goals with refreshing honesty. He said, “I wanna keep getting better, keep finding new ways to score. I think just giving a bigger, stronger effort—I mean, always I can improve my faith as being a better human, better wrestler. I wanna prove all those three things. I’ll be back in this tournament next year.”

He further added, “I’m coming for that goal. I don’t just wanna win, but to dominate points. And I hope that Japan guy is back, and if he’s not, I’m definitely gonna chase him down some other line. Blessed to be here… I got two more years to dominate. This bronze medal is still very, very special.” Now, you might be wondering who this “Japan guy” is.

It’s Makoto Hosokawa, the wrestler who defeated Bo Bassett. Bassett, who is being courted by numerous Division I teams, made an impressive run earlier, to the third-place match in the 65-kilogram bracket at the championships in Spain. He bulldozed his way through the semifinals with three strong wins before losing to Hosokawa. This loss pushed him to the bronze medal bout, where he still fought hard for a podium finish. But how did he win the bronze?

How did Bo Bassett turn heads to secure bronze at the U20 World Championships?

Bo Bassett, a junior at Bishop McCort Catholic Academy, earned the bronze medal at the Under-20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain. He opened his tournament with a win over Valentyn Hryhoryshyn from Ukraine. In the second round, he continued his impressive run by defeating Dzmitry Shvarts, a neutral athlete from Azerbaijan. In the quarterfinals, Bassett secured another victory against Nikhil Yadav Pilanagoila from India.

In the 65-kilogram bronze medal bout, Bassett showcased his skills by defeating Nikoloz Beshidze from Georgia with a decisive 10-0 victory by technical superiority in just 2:19. Bassett’s performance at the championships, combined with his previous successes, including a gold at the 2021 Cadet World Championships and a sweep at the U20 Pan American Championships, highlights his exceptional talent and determination.

Team USA also had a memorable competition, clinching the team title with 170 points. Bassett was thrilled to be part of a team making history, with the potential for ten American wrestlers to medal in one year. As he prepares to return to Johnstown with his father, Bill, Bo Bassett is grateful for the experience and the support he’s received. He’s excited about the opportunities wrestling has provided and looks forward to continuing his journey while sharing his passion and faith.