Bo Bassett is the name on everyone’s lips in the wrestling world right now, and honestly, it’s no surprise. At just 17, the kid is being compared to legends like Spencer Lee and David Taylor—let that sink in for a second. You might be wondering: What makes him such a big deal? Well, his list of accomplishments feels never-ending, and his recruiting process? Let’s just say it’s not your average, run-of-the-mill approach. He’s turning heads both on and off the mat, and wrestling fans are loving every second of it.

Take the 30th annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman tournament, for example. This isn’t just any tournament; it’s one of the most prestigious in high school wrestling. Bassett didn’t just defend his title—he obliterated the competition. We’re talking about six consecutive technical falls where the scores were as outrageous as 20-3, 21-6, and even a ridiculous 22-4 in the finals against Carlos Stanton. He was the highest point scorer of the entire tournament, which clearly indicated why he is the most highly rated Number One ranking of the class of 2026 recruits.

As if this wasn’t enough, starting to get out of the ordinary, it was more than just a win for Bassett. The victory was his third Ironman title and placed him on a high pedestal. David Taylor? He also captured three Ironman titles way back when dominating the collegiate and international scenes before turning 18. The other one is Spencer Lee, the man who also claimed three Ironman championships and, thereafter, won the silver Olympic medal in 2024 in Paris. To even be associated with these icons in such a way is really phenomenal for Bassett.

But you had to know that it was coming… especially considering the intensity he wrestles with which he wrestles. And his comments about the same.

During the Ironman tournament, when asked how he was able to maintain the intensity and pace with which he was fighting, the 17-year-old responded, “I think it is something that we do 24/7 in a week. I think I live that way. I’m constantly going extremely hard in training that way, so when I go out on that mat, it’s kind of my nature and just represents my faith.” This was the same sentiment he echoed after etching his name in the wrestling record books.

“I love wrestling, and I work really hard, so I live the way I wrestle,” he expressed after winning a third consecutive title. “I feel like it’s not one of those things you can just turn on and wrestle extremely hard and fast-paced.” Developing the right mentality to compete at the very highest level is crucial, and Bo Bassett has almost perfected it. Take the fact that he genuinely enjoys competing toward the end of the day, for instance.

 In a sport like wrestling, where competitors usually have to wait their turn to fight, most would prefer early schedules. It’s better physically and mentally. But considering most of his matches are usually the final matches of the day, Bo Bassett has learned to overcome that challenge and focus solely on his goal: to win. “Being the last match is a little bit more difficult than knowing exactly when you’re going to be up. You don’t know until basically two hours before the final start. So, for me, it’s an adjustment I’m ready for.

“I’ve been second to last, close to the end before, but being last, the so-called main event, is an honor, and it’s exciting.” What he said next perfectly encapsulated just what makes him the competitor he is: “I think I wrestle better the higher the stage, the higher the stakes.” That was the case in the finals against Carlos Stanton. He was on the verge of winning a third consecutive Ironman title, and that could’ve very well derailed him. But Bassett kept his eyes on the prize and did what he had to.

Now, he’s joined the likes of David Taylor and Spencer Lee! And his father, Bill, couldn’t be prouder. “I think he’s changing a sport. A lot of little kids and new parents are looking up to him and learning a lot from him,” Bassett Sr. said. Having won three Ironman titles and bearing an almost too impressive history, Bo Bassett is, in fact, showing that he is not only a future of wrestling but also building it.

Will Bo Bassett choose Penn State? Fans are betting on the navy blue and white!

One fan even joked, “Relentless. Dang, he’d wear navy blue and white really well,” obviously expecting him to select Penn State—with those colors looking so perfect for such a strong team. There is much hype around Bassett, and the list of achievements, like being the holder of the 2021 U17 gold and winning the 2024 U20 world bronze, makes him one of the highest-priority recruits in the United States. But with so many schools in the mix, the big question is, where will he go?

Some of the best schools visited by Bassett include a number of universities across the United States, and the latest addition is Oklahoma State University. New head coach David Taylor has overseen massive changes in the Cowboys’ program that also further enhance attraction for players like Bassett. While he was there, he was caught sparring with assistant coach Thomas Gilman and even wore the OSU singlet and trained with Jax Forrest, which fueled speculation that he could be headed for the Cowboys.

But Penn State is far from out of the race, as he has visited that university as well; diehard supporters will expect Bassett to don the navy blue and white outfit of a team that prides itself on churning out champions. If he goes there or to any other college, one thing is definite: Bo Bassett will be causing quite a ripple in college wrestling.

Fans can’t stop marveling at Bo Bassett’s achievements, with one even commenting, “good lord Bo Bassett is extraordinary. seventeen years old.“ Another fan couldn’t believe it, adding, “He’s 18?!? WTF.” In only 17 years, Bo has chalked up successes beyond which many wrestlers spend their entire years chasing. His list of accolades is truly impressive: He has managed to come out victorious in more championships, including the Cadet World Championships in Budapest, where he emerged the overall winner in 2021 at the 45-kilogram freestyle. The following year, he won the Super 32 event and the Ironman championship.

But that’s not all! In 2024, Bo repeated his success and became the PIAA Class 2A champion at 139 pounds. He, too, made it to the five finalists for the Olympic Sports Kid of the Year by Sports Illustrated Kids and was awarded the Humanitarian Award at Forest Hills for two years consecutively. On top of that, Bo and his brothers Keegan and Melvin became the first trio of the same family to qualify for the U.S. Open by winning teams and becoming first Team USA players.

Thus, it is still unpredictable what cub is next for Bo Bassett when it comes to wrestling, but everyone is definitely waiting for the next great thing he will do. Another fan put it perfectly, saying, “Bo Bassett’s pace is RELENTLESS!” With that kind of drive, he’s well on his way to becoming a legend. Now, with the possibility of the 17-year-old joining Oklahoma State under Olympic champion-turned-coach David Taylor, the future looks incredibly bright for Bassett.