Jax Forrest Falls to Russia's Zavur Uguev In Semifinals

Oklahoma State 2026 commit Jax Forrest has had an improbable run to the World Championships in Croatia, making it all the way to the semifinals as a 17-year-old high school senior. Unfortunately, Forrest ran into an Olympic gold medal buzzsaw in 30-year-old Zavur Uguev as lost 10-3. 

Forrest will wrestle for the bronze medal on Sunday at 61kg. 

It was an impressive run for Forrest, as he rolled over Sangboum Han from Korea 10-0 in 3:24 in the round of 32, before beating Takara Suda of Japan 7-2 in the quarterfinals. The quarters were just as impressive as he beat Taiyrbek Zhumaskbek Uulu from Kyrgyzstan 13-7.

Another wrestler from Cowboy Regional Training Center in Stillwater, Zahid Valencia of Team USA, won three matches and earned his way into the World Championship semifinals at 86kg.

Forrest committed to Oklahoma State and David Taylor back in early February, the No. 3 overall prospect at the time. It was too long before Forrest took over the No. 1 spot in the 2026 class, and has been on a tear ever since as he became the youngest US male freestyle wrestler to compete at senior worlds since 1974.

The 2026 class for Taylor and Co. is rather stacked, with Forrest as the shiny jewel atop the crown.