When it comes to wrestling, the wunderkinds are taking the cake, and the younger you start, the better. With the Paris Olympics coming up, many expect the Stars and Stripes to maintain its legacy on the greatest stage once again as Team USA heads to the French capital with a stacked roster. However, the rich heritage wasn’t developed in one day. Nurturing talent remains one of the cornerstones of the success that the nation has experienced, and U20 powerhouse Bo Bassett just proved that the future of USA wrestling is in safe hands.

Bishop McCort Catholic’s Bassett has become a force to be reckoned with. Winner of the 2021 Cadet World Championships, Bo has displayed his worth multiple times. The young Turk’s focus on improving his abilities has laid bare his intentions to become one of the greatest names in the sport, and he once again bolstered his claim to fame recently.

Bo Bassett adds another major victory to his repertoire

The U20 Pan American Championships just concluded in Lima, Peru, and Bassett walked away from the South American country with yet another feather to his illustrious cap. On July 16, Bo took to X to announce his triumphs one more time as he highlighted how the upcoming U20 World Championships was his ultimate prize. “2024 U20 65kg Pan Am Champion,” reads his emphatic caption as he shared several snippets from the Peruvian tournament.

“The goal is & always will be the same! My next focus is to dominate the world with pace & pressure. It’s world championships season,” wrote Bassett in his post along with sharing an inspirational quote/Psalm from The Bible to underscore his fixation to become an iconic figure in the world of amateur wrestling.

On his way to the top of the podium, Bassett subdued multiple opponents while displaying his prowess in all its glory. In the quarterfinal round, Bassett trounced Brazil’s Wenzo Nogueira (winning 4-0 by pin). In the semifinal matchup against Puerto Rico’s Rafael Garcia, recording a 12-1 victory, and in the final matchup, Bo trampled over Mexico’s Diego Peraza. At the Team Trials for the U20 World Championships in May, Bassett was spotted being given tips by MMA star Bo Nickal and four-time World Championships gold medalist Kyle Dake and it seems like the wisdom shared by the country’s top stars helped him sharpen his skills in a spectacular fashion.

Bassett’s latest feat, is to be pondered over with greater interest since he made it clear that he’s been looking at various schools for his collegiate career. Bo is currently the top-ranked junior wrestler in the country and where he will end up for the next phase of his career is certain to evoke the curiosity of the sports fans in the country. However, while Bassett’s victory is undoubtedly one of the key takeaways from the tournament, he isn’t the only American star to have made a mark at the PanAm Championships.

Team USA upholds its legacy in Peru

The USA won multiple golds in various categories at the U20 tournament. The 2021 Cadet Freestyle World Team team member Luke Lilledahl won gold in the men’s 57kg weight bracket, while the U17 World Championships medalist Zack Ryder secured the top-spot finish in the 79kg weight class. William Dekraker, PJ Duke, Ladarion Lockett, Connor Mirasola, and Camden McDanel also won gold in the 61kg, 70kg, 74kg, 92kg, and 97kg respectively. While the boys hauled a number of accolades at the event, their female colleagues didn’t do too badly either.

Clare Booe and many other USA stars won gold medals in their respective weight classes. Furthermore, the Greco-Roman contingent also made its mark with top-of-the-podium finishes by several stars. With so many future stars from the country making waves at the tournament, it waits to be seen if any of these wrestlers go on to continue with their momentum in their senior careers as well.