Bo Bassett has had a season of high expectations and even higher pressure. It is not news that Bo is the top recruit for the upcoming collegiate season. But this position got a little shaky after his humbling loss that came after a string of wins. At the U20 Championships, Bo went through the competition like it was a walk in the park. It was all winning until the match was against Japan’s Makoto Hosokawa. This loss had Bo settling for third place. But was Bo satisfied?

Not the least. If anything, Bo Bassett was hungry to reclaim his spot as the best. And boy, did he come out swinging at “Who’s #1” against California native Daniel Zepeda? Zepeda, who had beaten Bo before, was eager to do it again. And to make it a bit more intriguing, Zepeda even did a quick little Instagram flex before their match on September 29th.

From the comfort of a Quality Inn and Suites in Bo’s hometown of Johnstown, Zepeda put up a story and wrote, “Daddy’s home.” The move was a message to stir the pot, and it sure did. But having fought Bo Bassett before, Daniel Zepeda should have known that he had to back up the big talk with real moves on the mat. Unfortunately for him, Bo had bigger plans brewing. Bo did not just beat Zepeda; he made it a statement that would silence those who questioned his position after U20.

Bo Bassett came out with a brilliant takedown early on to build an early 3-0 lead. Zepeda managed an escape to put a point on the board, but Bo kept up the pressure high. Bo soon went up to a 6-1 lead by the end of the first period. By the time the second period began, Bo was in control and had a 10-2 lead. Zepeda, in between, took a good attempt at a comeback, but Bo was not going to let this be another loss. The final score was 12-6, leaving no room for doubt. Bo Bassett had officially reclaimed his throne.

Although a very sad loss for Daniel Zepeda, he knew exactly what he was walking into. Before the match, he went on to say, “Right now, he has the number one spot, and obviously, I want that. He’s been on fire, and when someone’s on fire like that, of course, you want to wrestle them. That’s the match I want. I want to wrestle the best guy when they’re at their best.” Well, Bo Bassett certainly is the best, and Zepeda had to learn it the hard way.

While the win was, of course, the sweetest nectar of all, it was also a reminder as to why Bo is the most talked-about name for the upcoming season. The speculation around his college decision is still running wild. However, Bo wasn’t the only top recruit to have a brilliant run at “Who’s #1”! Another one of the recruitment favorites had his own big moment that night.

Bo Bassett and Jax Forrest steal the show as college drama peaks!

While Bo was busy reclaiming his #1 spot, Jax Forrest was doing some damage of his own. Both Bo and Jax train are Pennsylvania natives who train under the same coach. While Bo tops the list for college, Jax isn’t far behind. He is currently the #2 pound-for-pound wrestler in the country. On the same night, Jax took down Seth Mendoza with a 7-2 win. It is not surprising that Bo and Jax are the most wanted recruits. But what makes these wins a whole lot more interesting is that both are yet to decide on their colleges.

Bo Basset’s unconventional recruitment journey has now reduced his 80 schools list to 17. The latest school to be cut out is The Pitt Panthers. However, schools like Penn State, Oklahoma State, and Michigan are still in the mix. Jax, on the other hand, took a different approach. He did not give away his list until recently. His list has ten schools, including Iowa State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, and Penn State. Recently, however, both the top recruits were spotted in another big name.

Both Bo and Jax were seen in the Blues of Michigan. Bo even gave a shoutout to Michigan on his Instagram, saying, “Taking my time, looking at every option, and enjoying this recruiting process. Go Blue!!” Jax also posted, “Blues?” The Wolverines are definitely making a case that cannot be refused to land both of these young stars. But amidst the mix also lie college and home visits from legends like Cael Sanderson and David Taylor.

While Penn State and its legacy are hard to compete with. Penn just might have given the best piece of their legacy, David Taylor, to Oklahoma State. As head coach, Taylor just might be the decision-making factor for these recruits. He is, after all, Bo’s childhood idol. Meanwhile, Michigan’s recent Big Ten title and their legendary coach, Sean Bormet, are also hard to resist.

Hold your breath, folks; this college season just might be the most exciting one yet. For now, we’ll just have to wait and see which school gets to call these two stars their own.