“I can’t even imagine that first runout in Carver-Hawkeye (Arena), but I’m excited for it. I think about it a lot.” Bo Bassett definitely thinks it’s a privilege to represent the same program that has produced icons like Spencer Lee, Max Murin, Michael Kemerer, and Kaleb Young. But to have a champion like Bassett in your ranks is a matter of pride. And also a way to get back to the top. Because this Pennsylvania native doesn’t rest. But before getting started with the Hawkeyes, he wants to check off one thing from his to-do list: Worlds. Cryptic much? Let’s unpack slowly.

The 18-year-old has recently confirmed he will be retaining his eligibility in the U20 wrestling category for the next year too. And then, he gave us the big news. Bo Bassett will be competing in the 2025 World Team Trials (WTT) Challenge Tournament in Kentucky next month. With a chance to make it to the world team, Bassett is eyeing international glory and a world championship medal before his college debut. Not that he doesn’t have one, though. And it’s quite an important one.

On April 27, Justin Basch on Twitter shared the criteria given by the UWW for qualifying for the WTT Challenge Tournament that would take place on the May 16-17 weekend. And we saw Bo Bassett at the 2025 US Open Wrestling Championships held from April 23-27 in Las Vegas. Is there a connection? Well, not directly. Because the 18-year-old has already qualified for the Kentucky tournament.

How so? The criterion list shared by Justin Basch mentioned the ‘U20 World Medalist’ route as a qualification. In fact, the 2024 U23 and U20 Men’s Freestyle World Medalists will be eligible to compete in the WTT Challenge tournament. But where does Bo Bassett fit in here? Well, he did bag the bronze medal in the 2024 U20 World Championships held in Pontevedra, Spain.

And that would let him take a shot at a World Team berth. Bo Bassett had the option to switch to the senior category. But he hasn’t. In fact, he competed in the recently concluded 2025 US Open Championship as a U20 wrestler. It seems like someone is not content with the 2024 U20 World Championship bronze. Well, others would be just happy winning a medal in what was his first age-eligible U20 World Championships. But not Bowen William Bassett. He wants more. And his path starts at the World Team Trials Challenge tournament.

What’s on his mind? Is it the 2025 U20 World Wrestling Championships to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria? It will be held between 18 and 25 August 2025. The Senior World Championships will also be there in September 2025. Opting to participate in the WTT Challenge tournament, Bo Bassett is definitely thinking of global accolades in 2025. And it will be a nice way to start college life. With more World Championship mileage. It would add to the 2024 U20 bronze, along with the 2021 U17 World Championships gold medal he has won in the 45 kg weight class.

Then, he can focus on his Hawkeye objective, as he shared with Hawk Central in April 2025: “Let’s get back to that top spot and let’s keep putting titles together. Yep, a guy who doesn’t settle for bronze won’t be happy with his college finishing 4th in the NCAA. One national title in the 197 lbs category and 2 runners-up in the 133 lbs and 165 lbs weight classes is not Bo Bassett standard. But it’s OK. Once he starts, he will get the program rolling.

But where does his 2025 US Open Championship participation fit in? He was coming back as the defending champion in the 65 kg category. So, how did it go this time?

Despite a setback, Bo Bassett’s plans remain unchanged

Well, he had the right incentives, no doubt. The winner of the 2025 US Open Championship got himself a spot in the best-of-3 finals in the WTT. The other spot in the final is what Bo Bassett will be fighting for through the WTT Challenge Tournament. That is because the 3-time Super 32 Champion has come up just a little short.

Well, the Iowa recruit started strong. He cruised through to the semifinals of the U20 freestyle event in his weight category (65 kg). Along the way, he earned 2 wins via fall and 3 technical falls. Would you believe he is debuting in the US Open Championships? It goes to show just how high his ceiling is. His 1st match lasted just 57 seconds. And after he was done with Thomas Thongseng, his opponent in the 3rd round was Joseph Morris. Just a little longer—1:05 minutes—and another fall win took him to the 4th round.

It took Bassett 1:56 minutes to get past Tyson Peach of the South Dakota Program. And in the 5th round, it was Jesse Grajeda. A little challenge. Grajeda engaged him for 4:36 minutes. But a technical fall with a 16-5 score helped the Iowa recruit move on to the quarterfinals. There, he squared off with Eren Sement, who lasted just 2:03 minutes. And with a 10-0 score, Bassett got his technical fall.

But in the semifinals, his championship charge was halted by Luke Stanich, who incidentally has become the 2025 US Open Champion in the 65 kg weight class. It was a grappling exchange, but eventually, the Lehigh wrestler prevailed, winning the contest by a 5-2 decision. As for Bassett, it was another strong campaign for sure. And a lot of experience gathered.

Now, he will concentrate on the WTT Challenge Tournament. Because before he begins his Hawkeye journey in 2026, Bo Bassett has massive worldly commitments in 2025.