In a thrilling display of grit and redemption, Jax Forrest punched his ticket to Final X with an emphatic 11-1 victory over Ben Davino at the Senior World Team Trials Challenge Series in Louisville, Kentucky. The win sets up a potential reunion with former Bishop McCort Catholic teammate Bo Bassett, as both wrestlers aim to represent the U.S. senior world team next month in Newark, New Jersey.
Forrest, who already has an NCAA title under his belt at 133 pounds, avenged a recent loss to Davino in the U.S. Open. The match was a masterclass in momentum and strategy, with Forrest striking early and never looking back. "That's insane," Forrest said of the possibility of joining Bassett on the world stage. "Me and Bo are really close. We've talked about this for years—being on the same world team. We have a great chance now, and we're hoping to do this together for a long time."
The road to victory wasn't without its drama. Forrest compared his journey to the plot of "Rocky III," where the champion loses his belt, rediscovers his hunger, and fights his way back to the top. "I got the title, got a little too high on myself, wasn't training as hard, and got it taken from me," Forrest reflected. "I had to get that 'Eye of the Tiger' and dig deep." That mindset paid off as he dominated the match from the opening whistle, scoring a takedown and turn in the first period to build a commanding 4-0 lead.
In the second period, Forrest's defense was just as sharp as his offense. He countered Davino's shots with precision, earning exposure points and a go-behind that sealed the victory. The win sets up a best-of-3 series at Final X on June 19 against Penn State's Marcus Blaze, a rematch of their 2024 Olympic Team Trials bout. For wrestling fans, this is a can't-miss showdown between two of the sport's brightest young stars.
Forrest and Bassett's journey from high school teammates to potential world team members is a story of perseverance and friendship. As they prepare for the biggest matches of their young careers, one thing is clear: the future of American wrestling is in very good hands.