Jax Forrest

Career

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Perspective

High school

Born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Forrest moved to Johnstown, Pennsylvania to attend Bishop McCort High School, where he is a rising senior.^[4] A two-time PIAA class AA state champion,^[5] Forrest has also competed in and won multiple collegiate open tournaments.^[6] At the freestyle age-group level, he claimed a U17 World silver medal in 2022.^[7]

2024

In April 2024, Forrest made his senior level debut and qualified to the US Olympic Team Trials by claiming the US Last Chance Qualifier crown, racking up dominant wins over NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello, veteran Josh Rodriguez and All-American Devan Turner.^[8]

Later in the month, Forrest competed at the US Olympic Team Trials, where, after defeating All-American Liam Cronin, he suffered a loss to World champion Thomas Gilman.^[9] Competing for third after a pair of forfeit wins, he was defeated by U17 World champion Marcus Blaze.^[10]

2025

In February 2025, Forrest, a high school junior, committed to wrestle for David Taylor at the Oklahoma State University.^[11]

In April, Forrest claimed the US Open National championship at 61 kilograms, notably defeating NCAA champions Nahshon Garrett in the quarterfinals and Seth Gross in the finals, both by technical fall.^[12] As the winner of the tournament, Forrest qualified for Final X, where he would face World champion Vito Arujau for the US World Team spot.^[13] Originally scheduled to take place at the Final X event, the series was postponed after Arujau's request following an injury.^[14] In the meantime, Forrest claimed a Pan American title after three victories over foreign opposition, in May.^[15]

In July, Forrest faced Arujau at the Fargo National tournament, clinching up two upset victories in a row to dethrone the World champion and become the United States' senior level rep at 61 kilograms for the 2025 World Championships, which will take place later in the year.^[16]

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Freestyle record