The current 2024-25 NCAA wrestling season has been a blast for the community. The community has witnessed the emergence of numerous young talents and the return of notable names on the mat. However, the chemistry between high school prodigy Bo Bassett and OSU has been one of the most frequently discussed topics in the community. Why so?

Indeed, a top prospect would only aim to continue his wrestling career in a top college, and which one is that in the current campaign? OSU is led by Olympic champion David Taylor, who is the team’s new head coach. Recently, the Cowboys were hit with a recruitment blow after another top prospect signed with a rival team, but there’s still hope for the community when it comes to the reunion of Bassett and Taylor.

Either a missed opportunity or a slot for a jackpot

Choosing a college for these high school wrestlers is one of the toughest decisions of their careers. One simple move can alter a lot of possibilities, and a negative one can completely ruin a promising career. Therefore, many players tend to remain loyal to their comfortable team or those with significant potential for the upcoming seasons. Even though OSU is one of the top-performing colleges in the 2024-25 season, it also has its fair share of rejections.

Many young talents have visited the campus, but only a few have decided to stay back, unlike Jude Correa’s situation. He was a top prospect from the Wyoming Seminary who had opened up his recruitment after decommitting from the University of Michigan back in October. However, earlier this month he paid a visit to look at the Cowboys program, and while he wasn’t disappointed with it, he still made his move with the Cornell Big Red. Correa officially announced his decision after winning the 215 lbs division in the Powerade Wrestling Tournament.

Taking to Instagram, Correa celebrated his win over Austin Johnson in a unique way, stating, “I always like the color red.” Indeed, it was official, and a big blow to the Cowboys, but was it actually? In the same event, Bo Bassett, at 145 lbs, secured his dominant win against Malvern Prep’s Declan O’Byrne in 2:31. The victory was enough to catch many eyes, as this particular win made him a three-time Powerade Wrestling Tournament winner. This achievement followed his reign as the three-time Super 32 champion and his triumph in the Ironman Wrestling Tournament.

A proud moment, but it has given the Cowboys a big chance. How so? Bassett has yet to choose a college he wants to participate in after he completes his high school career. Indeed, this will be in the 2025-26 season, but the youngster is keen to grab an opportunity early, as he doesn’t want to take a risk in the final moments. But what does the community think about this? Are they willing to see Bassett and Taylor pairing up?

The wrestling community has nothing but excitement for Bo Bassett

Watching talents like Bo Bassett indeed hypes up people. Although he is still a developing talent, his impressive performances have left many surprised and wondering what more he could achieve given the right opportunity and who could provide that. Despite Bassett’s currently curated colleges list standing at a mere 13, it’s incontestable that a competent coach leads a competent team. David Taylor embodies these qualities, and a fan expressed their interest in Bassett joining the team by writing “Cowboys.” But there’s a Penn State fan who went to the roots of the Olympic champion, stating, “David learned everything he has from Cael. And Caels room is 100x better. Make it make sense.” 

When Taylor finally joined OSU, there was hype, but it did come with its fair share of questions from the critics. The Olympic champion had a new challenge on his shoulders, as he wouldn’t be wrestling on the mat anymore but would be guiding future talents to bigger competitions. Indeed, it was a challenging task, but Taylor’s unique build made it possible. By imposing a high-risk, high-reward mindset on his wrestlers, the Cowboys have established a new level of dominance in the NCAA scene. This has led to the attraction of many prospects, as who wouldn’t want to join a top team?

Eventually, Bassett’s focus shifted to Taylor’s team, as he also participated in campus training with coach Thomas Gilman. While it’s unsure if he has met the Olympic champion in the premises, whenever he had the opportunity, he did make the most out of it, and fans were in awe, as one stated, “He’s do so well under David Taylor, so much to learn under the legendary cowboy.” Another fan wants Bassett to pair up with a notable name, stating, “I’m already salivating thinking about the Cowboys having the likes of Hendrickson and Bassett under David.” Similarly, one fan wrote, “OKSU could be the perfect step for him going into NCAA, who better than David Taylor to take you through the ropes.”

For now, everything is just a prediction for the youngster’s future. In the end, Bassett will have to decide under whom he wants to compete, continue his wrestling career, and step into the big leagues, such as the NCAA.