In NCAA wrestling, there are a lot of talents to look forward to. However, the crowd is always excited to see who will be debuting in the league in the upcoming seasons and making predictions about them. In this list of the public, Bo Bassett might be on the top, owing to his consistency in high school wrestling. The 17-year-old is striving to secure a spot at a top-tier college to jumpstart his collegiate career.

However, all of these NCAA aspirants will also be looking forward to getting into Team USA later on in their careers, as they will want to compete on the international stages. Speaking of USA Wrestling, they have made a big move by switching their major apparel brand from Nike to a Marysville-based wrestling apparel company. Wild, isn’t it? Indeed, they have mastered the art of kicking off 2025 with great surprise!

Bo Bassett hopeful during Nike’s fall

USA Wrestling parting ways with Nike in 2025 wasn’t on anybody’s bucket list. Why not? Nike is a multi-billion dollar company, worth approximately $112.63 billion, that has ties with many big names in the world. Nike has maintained a long-standing partnership with USA Wrestling, so the departure of such a significant sponsor comes as a surprise. But what brand did they replace Nike with? It is RUDIS.

Yes, a Marysville-based wrestling apparel company that is worth a ton less than Nike (approximately $500 million – $112.13 billion less than Nike!) made the deal with them. The announcement of RUDIS becoming an official supplier for USA Wrestling, encompassing footwear, apparel, accessories, and custom team gear, caught Bo Bassett’s attention. Taking to X, the 17-year-old conveyed his heartfelt welcome to the brand, stating, “Super excited for the @the_rudis and @USAWrestling partnership! Let’s go! Two of the best joining forces.”

Indeed, Bassett will be joining an NCAA team in the 2026-27 season, so he knows the value of this collaboration. Nike was surely a big name in the wrestling scene, but the youngster was excited to see the Marysville-based company making its move to the top step of the sport. And guess what? This particular deal mainly focuses on the next Olympic quadrennium. RUDIS has signed a deal with USA Wrestling until 2028, which is a significant move considering the LA Olympics in the same year.

In addition to Bassett, Rich Bender, the Executive Director of USA Wrestling, referred to this collaboration as the “golden age” of the sport. Indeed, both organizations have made sure to push the boundaries and make wrestling shine out there. And for youngsters like Bassett, this is a golden opportunity to be observed in the outer world. However, it’s not like he doesn’t get a lot of attention already. The 17-year-old’s demand in the wrestling market is so high that everyone is eagerly awaiting his next move, putting immense pressure on him. But Bassett is aware of it and knows how to handle it perfectly.

The only thing that keeps the wrestler out of pressure

Being a top prospect is not easy, as the spotlight is always on the person. But for Bo Bassett, it’s bearable, as it does kind of do the promotional activities for him by keeping the community constantly debating about him. There’s still pressure, and it’s something the wrestler has never failed to acknowledge.

However, during a post-match interview after winning his third Powerade Wrestling Tournament title, he revealed, stating, I think if there is, it’s taken away by my faith. I wear Jesus on my chest because I wholeheartedly got there only for him. I know with the Lord, anything is possible, and whatever happens is a part of God’s plan, and I’m ready for it. And I know that I work extremely hard, so if I win, great, and if I don’t, then I’m gonna keep working hard.”

Bassett has always prioritized his faith above all else, yet he has never neglected to work hard in tandem with his beliefs. His trust in the divine guides him to the correct destination, and he maintains focus on his training to prepare him for any challenge life presents. With all of this, he has made himself able to handle any kind of pressure, as he can’t let it hamper his stellar career.