The summer of struggles continues for the Iowa Men's Wrestling program. After a tough end to the 2024-2025 wrestling season, everything was looking up for the Hawkeyes until the Bo Bassett fiasco and fallout.
The details surrounding Bassett's decommittment from the program are still unknown, but Bassett and his family reportedly had a disagreement with Head Coach Tom Brands and the program.
The Bassetts reportedly requested that the program provide hotel, flight, and other accommodations for Bassett and his brother, Melvin Miller (2027 No. 1 overall prospect), to practice in Iowa City and wrestle with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club (HWC).
Brands reportedly took offense to their requests and told them that he would not allow them to dictate how to run a program, and denied their requests.
Bo immediately decommitted, and Miller scratched Iowa off his top choices list. The Bassetts did not confirm the report, stating the program was not the right fit for Bo.
After losing Bassett's committment from the 2026 recruiting class, the Iowa program learned that a recent transfer will no longer join the program.
Received confirmation today from Sammy Alvarez that he will not be competing with Iowa wrestling or the HWC after committing back in May.
— Eli McKown (@Emckown23) July 23, 2025
Gives a bit more clarity on what Iowa's lineup could look like, which we'll start attacking as the season nears:https://t.co/RGXqwfHvld
Rider transfer wrestler Sammy Alvarez told the Des Moines Register that he will no longer be joining the Iowa wrestling program after initially committing to the squad in May.
Alvarez announced he was committing to the Hawkeyes if the NCAA granted him a seventh year of eligibility after he filed a waiver stating medical hardship.
Alvarez did not state why he decided to reverse course on his commitment.
Alvarez began his career at Rutgers University (2019-2023), before transferring to wrestling powerhouse Oklahoma State (2023-2024), and finally to Rider (2024-2025).
Alvarez is a two-time NCAA Championship qualifier, and had the best finish of his career last season when he finished seventh in the 149-pound weight class.
The Hawkeyes will now look to wrestlers Miguel Estrada, Kael Voinovich, Victor Voinovich, and transfer Jordan Williams to fill the openings in the 149 and 157-pound weight classes.