Jax Forrest explained his choice to pick Oklahoma State wrestling over Penn State and others who were in on the recruiting battle.
Forrest is a guy any school would have liked to have, and it came down to Iowa, Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Penn State.
Ultimately, the Big 12 OSU, led by Penn State wrestling legend and Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor, won out.
HOW IT BEGAN
Let’s go back to where Forrest’s relationship began.
Ironically, it involves a current Penn State wrestler.
One of Forrest’s few losses was to Luke Lilledahl at Ironman 2022.
Not long after that, he had a weekend off and spent it in Stillwater, where he got to know the Oklahoma State family, particularly Daton Fix and Zoheir El Ouarraqe.
“I have a really close relationship with Zo and he’s someone who’s been helping me so much throughout this process,” Forrest said. “The one thing that really stuck out to me that was different about Oklahoma State is just all their supporting staff and Zo and all the other people that my parents know down there and everything.”
Forrest also liked that, although the Oklahoma State family wanted him to choose their school, the didn’t pressure him.
“What was really cool about them is they all just wanted me to choose what was best for me,” he said. “Obviously, (me going to) Oklahoma State is what they wanted, but they were super open to wherever I was gonna go. So that’s what really stuck out to me about this place that I’m going to be going to.”
MEETING OBJECTIVES
For a guy like Forrest, who’s 118-3 in his career at Bishop McCort with 108 of those wins coming by either bonus points or forfeit, no goal seems to be unreachable at or even beyond the college level.
All-America?
Absolutely.
Multi-time national champ?
You bet.
Hodge Trophy winner?
Yes.
Olympic champion?
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For Forrest, making this decision came down to what school would provide him with the most help in achieving these goals.
“That’s very broad,” Forrest said, “but I think with that, my style of wrestling, just who I am kind of, obviously there are more things that go into it. So just for me, how I wrestle, I wanted to be somewhere where they’re gong to contribute to develop how I wrestle because I wrestle a different style. Right from there, there’s different coaches that are known to do that, that aren’t known to do that. That just changes everything, so everything that goes into it is just me wanting to achieve my goals at the highest level and with the least amount of crazy things that go on around it and adversity.”
DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC?
Graphic by Oklahoma State Wrestling: David Taylor
As Forrest began to narrow his recruitment, he noticed that he and Taylor, known as “The Magic Man,” shared similarities.
Forrest was in middle school when Taylor won Olympic Gold in 2021 and ultimately decided learning under that guy wouldn’t be too bad.
That’s a big reason Oklahoma State wrestling won the recruiting battle over Penn State.
“He’s done all the things that I want to achieve,” Forrest said, “and I think just the fact that we’re similar in a lot of ways with how we wrestle, how we are on and off the mat, I think he’s somebody who could get me to achieve those goals. Sitting down with my parents, I think that’s been the real game-changer.”
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Forrest confirmed what most on the outside expected, which was that he expects to compete at either 141 or 149.
Whatever weight class he competes at, he’s part of a bright future Taylor and company are building.
Forrest’s commitment to OSU followed one from Dreshaun Ross, who is right behind Forrest at No. 3 in the Class of 2026 rankings.
Wrestling Recruiting: Big-Time Penn State Target Commits to David Taylor, Oklahoma State
The 2025 recruiting class is strong in Stillwater, too, with FloWrestling ranking it second behind Cornell and ahead of Penn State, which is third.
“It’s awesome,” Forrest said. “I know those guys. I was on visits with Dreshaun and I know D pretty well and I already know some guys on the team. I know Sergio (Vega). They’re all really good kids and I know them and I know that they have goals similar to mine. It’s just been my calling. Through everything, it just seems like this was the place that stuck out in my mind of where is going to help me be my best and still be able to be myself and not have to change anything about me.
“I think we’re going to be a team that’s going to be good. We’re going to be on the come up. Obviously, they’ve already been doing some really big things and I’m sure Coach David is going to keep trying to keep making the best team he can and that’s going to be exciting. The future is unknown, obviously, but I have faith that it’s going to be good.”
Overall, Forrest is sure he made the right choice.
“I don’t have any regrets and I won’t have any regrets about going to Oklahoma State.”
