OSU Wrestling: Jax Forrest’s Final X Series Delayed

If high school phenom Jax Forrest is going to make the United State’s World Team this year, he’s going to have to wait a little longer.

Vito Arujau, Forrest’s best-of-three opponent for the World Team spot at 61 kg, requested and received a delay for that series against Forrest because of a nagging injury. Arujau was able to request the delay as a returning world medalist, taking home bronze last year. As part of the request, Arujau had to include a written certification of an injury or illness to a USA Wrestling-approved doctor.

Forrest and Arujau were initially scheduled to wrestle at Final X on June 14. Now the pair will do battle in July 14 in Fargo, North Dakota.

Forrest, a class of 2026 prospect committed to Oklahoma State, earned his spot in Final X after winning the U.S. Open at 61 kg back in April. He beat 2018 national champion Seth Gross in the finals. Forrest then went on to win the Pan American Championships at the weight.

Arujau earned his spot by being a returning world medalist. Before taking bronze in Tirana, Albania last year, Arujau won gold in Beldgrade, Serbia in 2023. Arujau did his college wrestling at Cornell, where he won national titles in 2023 and 2024. OSU fans might remember Arujau as the guy who beat Daton Fix in the 2023 semifinal in Tulsa and the 2024 final in Kansas City.

Although Forrest won’t be wrestling in Final X, there is a former Cowboy and two other Cowboy RTC competitors wrestling at the event. Wyatt Hendrickson will take on Trent Hillger in a best-of-three series for the 125 kg spot on the World Team. Hendrickson beat Hillger 10-4 in the U.S. Open semifinals en route to winning the event. Hillger won the World Team Trials to earn his rematch at Final X.

Cowboy RTC wrestlers Joey McKenna (65 kg) and Zahid Valencia (86 kg) will also do battle at Final X thanks to U.S. Open wins. McKenna will face Real Woods in his series. Valencia will have a U.S. Open final rematch against Kyle Dake.

The winners of these best of three series will represent the United States at the 2025 World Championships in September in Zagreb, Croatia.

The best-of-three series start at 1 p.m. June 14 and will be streamed on Flo.