Latest news with #HodgeTrophy
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Penn State wrestling dynasty: Why Bo Bassett may join PJ Duke, Marcus Blaze, after all
The national champion Penn State wrestling program already is restocking with the country's two top recruits, arriving this summer. It now gets another shot at landing the No. 1 prospect who's a year younger. Advertisement Home-state phenom Bo Bassett − the top-rated recruit in the 2026 class − somewhat surprisingly spurned coach Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions nearly five months ago when he picked the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Johnstown, Pa. senior-to-be chose Iowa the day before his Bishop McCort High teammate Jax Forrest − the nation's No. 2 recruit − picked Oklahoma State. Suddenly, though, Bassett is back on the market. He announced Sunday evening that he was de-committing from Iowa and re-opening his recruiting process. It's uncertain yet when the undefeated high school wrestler (126-0 with one season remaining) will decide again. His new finalists, according to FloWrestling, are Penn State, NCAA runner-up Nebraska and Oklahoma State, coached by Penn State icon David Taylor. Iowa wrestling commit Bo Bassett gives a thumbs up to the crowd during the ÒFloWrestling Night in AmericaÓ event Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. Bassett would bolster a Penn State program that owns the top roster in the sport and is arguably the greatest ongoing sports dynasty in America. PSU has won 12 of the past 14 NCAA Championships, including four straight. He would be joining incoming freshmen PJ Duke and Marcus Blaze, the nation's top two recruits, and Jayden James, the No. 3 prospect in his own 2026 class. Advertisement Bassett's younger brother, Melvin Miller, the nation's top recruit in the 2027 recruiting class, has yet to pick his college destination. His top choices are Penn State, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Pitt, Nebraska, Michigan, Missouri and North Carolina State − but not Iowa. Bassett posted about his move on Facebook: "This wasn't easy, but I believe it's not the right fit for me as a wrestler, a person or for my faith journey. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'll never speak a bad word about (Iowa's) program. This is about finding the place God wants me to be. This is a huge decision in my life and it has to be the right one. 'I would like to thank all of the Iowa fans who have supported me. You have been amazing and I am grateful for the support you showed me. I have opened up my recruitment." Advertisement Best in the nation: Potential Penn State wrestling star PJ Duke wins junior Hodge Trophy. What does it mean? No. 1 winning percentage: Penn State wrestling at Final X: Can Mitchell Mesenbrink be the best ever? His PSU salary revealed: Here's how Penn State's Cael Sanderson's salary compares to James Franklin Bassett won a world title at the Cadet World Wrestling Championships and was third at last year's U20 World Championships. He recently won another PIAA title with a 52-0 season at Bishop McCort. Bassett did lose to Penn State's Blaze at the recently freestyle Final X competition in New Jersey. There, Blaze hit a big third-period scoring move to win their 65 kilogram weight class match, 5-1. Advertisement Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Bo Bassett leaves Iowa. Will he join PJ Duke at Penn State wrestling?
San Francisco Chronicle
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. ___
Hamilton Spectator
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo , drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics , will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen will be a live event commentator and analyst. Real American Freestyle events will feature single matches at eight men's and four women's weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, with other sites to be named in the coming months. ___ AP sports:
Washington Post
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo , drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics , will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen will be a live event commentator and analyst. Real American Freestyle events will feature single matches at eight men's and four women's weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, with other sites to be named in the coming months. ___ AP sports:
Fox Sports
04-06-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic champ Gable Steveson, signs with Real American Freestyle
Associated Press Wyatt Hendrickson, who stunned Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson to win the 285-pound national title at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships in March, has signed with Real American Freestyle. Hendrickson joins the company after claiming the Hodge Trophy for Oklahoma State as the nation's top men's college wrestler. Hendrickson's victory over Minnesota's Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, drew national attention beyond the sport. His dramatic late takedown in the final gave him the 5-4 win and closed out a 27-0 season. It was the only time Steveson was taken down all season, and it ended his win streak at 70 matches. Real American Freestyle commissioner Hulk Hogan told The Associated Press when the company launched in April that Hendrickson, an Air Force second lieutenant, was 'on the radar.' The company announced the signing on Wednesday. 'Wyatt Hendrickson right now is the sport of wrestling, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome him to the Real American Freestyle team after what was truly a historic win and unbelievable season,' Hogan said in a statement. Kennedy Blades, an American who earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the face of the company's women's division. American Olympic medalists Kyle Snyder, Kyle Dake and Aaron Brooks are the biggest names to have signed on the men's side. Snyder earned gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and silver in Tokyo. Dake is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist. Brooks, a four-time national champion at Penn State, was a bronze medalist in Paris. Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen will be a live event commentator and analyst. Real American Freestyle events will feature single matches at eight men's and four women's weight classes. The first event is scheduled for Aug. 30 in Cleveland, with other sites to be named in the coming months. ___ AP sports:
