In Stillwater, wrestling fans were treated to a thrilling showdown between two freshman phenoms that left everyone buzzing. Jax Forrest edged out Aaron Seidel in a nail-biting 10-9 victory, showcasing the kind of grit and determination that makes college wrestling so electrifying.
Seidel came out strong, scoring two takedowns in the opening period. But Forrest turned the tide in the second, executing a crucial takedown that came with four nearfall points, ultimately securing his victory. This win propelled Forrest to an impressive 8-0 record and halted Seidel’s impressive streak of 12 consecutive bonus-point victories.
David Taylor, who had a front-row seat to the action, shared his insights: “It was a fun match to watch and be a part of. Both of those guys, they’re young and they let it fly.
It was a great learning experience for Jax. That first period went about as bad as it could go.
He got taken down twice, and the kid had almost 40 seconds of riding time, but Jax didn’t get deterred. He refocused and found a way to win.”
This match highlighted the depth of talent in the 133-pound weight class this season, where youth is leading the charge. Of the top seven wrestlers in Intermat’s rankings, five are freshmen, including Forrest and Seidel, alongside Marcus Blaze from Penn State, Ben Davino from Ohio State, and Kyler Larkin from Arizona State. These young athletes have compiled an impressive combined record of 74-3, with two losses coming from fellow freshmen and one from a medical forfeit.
Taylor emphasized the importance of Forrest’s experience against Seidel for his future development. “When you’re used to dominating, how do you react when you’re in a match and you’re not doing that?
It was a good test for him. To be the best, you’ve got to handle both dominating and close matches.
He’s going to face tough competitors, and learning to wrestle in those tighter, competitive matches is crucial.”
As these young talents continue to clash, we might be witnessing the start of rivalries that could define college wrestling for years to come.