The Hawkeye Men's Wrestling program has had a rough summer recruiting-wise following the decommitment of top 2026 prospect Bo Bassett. Bassett initially committed to the Iowa program in February but abruptly reversed course.
Rumors surfaced that the Bassett family and the Iowa program were at an impasse when Head Coach Tom Brands and the program denied Bo and his brother Melvin Williams funds and access to the Iowa training facilities.
The Iowa program stated that the Bassetts requested flights and other accommodations so the boys could train in Iowa City. Brands reportedly said he will not let them tell him how to run his program and denied them.
The Bassetts did not confirm or deny the rumors, stating that the Iowa program was not a fit for Bo. Immediately after Bo decommitted, his brother, and the 2027 No. 1 overall prospect, Melvin Williams, scratched Iowa off his list.
A few days later, the Hawkeyes received good news after 2027 prospect Sonny Amato announced Iowa was on his preferred destinations.
At the end of this week, two other 2027 in-state prospects also have Iowa on their top choices list.
Hayden Schwab, 113 pounds (Don Bosco)
Hayden Schwab unveils his top seven schools.
— Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek) June 27, 2025
He’s got Iowa and UNI on there for instate schools #IAhswr pic.twitter.com/mSGbBzpuKC
2027 prospect Hayden Schwab is a Don Bosco High School star wrestler in Gilbertville, Iowa. Schwab, the son of Northern Iowa Wrestling Head Coach Doug Schwab, earned an Iowa 1A State Championship Title at 120 pounds last season.
FloWrestling ranked Schwab as the No. 5 wrestler at 113 pounds and the No. 23 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.
Schwab is also an accomplished international wrestler, and is competing at the 2025 Under-20 and Under-23 USA Team Trials.
Dawson Youngblut, 132 pounds (Don Bosco)
Dawson Youngblut, #38 in @MatScouts1’s Class of 2027, has released his top six schools.
— Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek) June 26, 2025
Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI all made the list for the two-time Iowa champ #IAhswr pic.twitter.com/Gw0AWexxTj
Dawson Youngblut, another Don Bosco standout, has Iowa on his list of preferred destinations. Youngblut is also coming off a State Championship-winning season, capturing the Iowa 1A State Championship at 132 pounds.
Youngblut is slowly climbing recruiting big boards, going from an honorable mention to the No. 31 overall prospect in FloWrestling's rankings for the 2027 recruiting class.
Youngblut is also an accomplished folkstyle wrestler, capturing the 2024 USAW Under-16 Folkstyle championship.