In the realm of competitive wrestling, where grit and determination reign supreme, a remarkable young athlete is making waves for his prowess on the mat. At the Olympic Wrestling Trials, amidst the fierce competition and anticipation, Bishop McCort’s NIL pioneer, Jax Forrest, emerges not only as a contender but as a beacon of inspiration, as he channels his success into giving back to his beloved sport at the tender age of 16.

With the recent changes allowing athletes to capitalize on their NIL, Forrest stands out for his athletic achievements and commitment to leveraging his platform for the betterment of the sport he loves. At the age of 16, his decision to give back some portion of his profit to his sports shows his support for youth wrestling.

NIL pioneer Jax Forrest gives back to wrestling

According to the reports published in The Tribune-Democrat, Bishop McCort Catholic freshman Jax Forrest made headlines as he inked a groundbreaking NIL deal with CFLWR Combat Gear. The deal marks a significant milestone in Forrest’s great wrestling career but also signals a promising partnership aimed at giving back to the sport that has shaped him. Bo Bassett, a freshman at Bishop McCort Catholic, made history as the first athlete in the area to secure a NIL deal. He signed with the recovery company Ice Barrel and now following the path of Bassett, Jax aims to move forward in future.

In July of 2021, Bo Bassett who is a freshman at Bishop McCort won a gold medal. After this achievement, his stock has risen and he has signed four NIL deals back to back. On this Bo Bassett said, “NIL is super cool. It’s a really cool opportunity for me”. After this another wrestler ‘Jax Forrest’ from Bishop McCort signed with NIL in January and since then wrestling apparel company assured to donate a portion of its profits right back into the sport, especially at the youth level. Forrest, a 2024 PIAA Class 2A gold medalist at 127 pounds, qualified for the United States Olympic Trials set for April 19-20 at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. 

Being still young on his wrestling and been at it for a while, when asked why coming out and testing yourself he said, “I just wanted to see where I stood along these guys, I always want to score points, whether the situation I’m losing or winning.” Bishop McCort sophomore Jax Forrest won a 10-0 technical fall in 1:18 over Nathan Tomasello for the 57-kilogram freestyle title during Sunday’s 2024 last-spot Olympic team trials qualifier and looking to make his mark and give back to his sport.

Setting the stage for wrestling’s next chapter

Forrest is ranked No. 1 in the class of 2026 and No. 2 overall at 126 pounds by FloWrestling. He is a 2022 United World Wrestling Cadet World Championships runner-up. Forrest, who went 53-2 this past season, is a 2023 Super 32 champion too. The Olympic Wrestling Trials showcased not only the prowess of seasoned athletes but also unveiled a remarkable young talent in Jax Forrest, a 16-year-old NIL pioneer from Bishop McCort.

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Forrest earned the 2022 Cadet World Team Trials 17-under freestyle title at 55 kilograms and finished second at the UWW Cadet World Championships in July. Forrest is now preparing for the Paris Olympics 2024 as he said in an interview, “I’m just trying to figure out what I need to change and get better up”. He is not that much concerned about the future as his coach and teammates are confident in him and has the full support of his father who always has his back.