Jax Forrest, Keegan Bassett react to winning U.S. Open
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) – Bishop McCort wrestlers Keegan Bassett and Jax Forrest brought U.S. Open Championships back home to Johnstown this past weekend from Las Vegas.
Despite being eligible for the U20 Division, Forrest bumped up to the senior level to face some of the best competition in the country. It was a move that was partially influenced by his future Oklahoma State head coach David Taylor.
Bishop McCort's Jax Forrest cruises to U.S. Open finals
'The thing that Coach David told me was, you're not going there to compete. You know, if you're going, you're going to win,' the 61-kilogram champion said. 'I'm not (bumping up a level) to go there to try and take third, try and take fifth, try and beat one guy. You know, I'm going there to try and win the whole tournament.'
Forrest's remarkable run included technical fall wins against former NCAA champions Nahshon Garrett and Seth Gross, who Forrest defeated in the finals. Both wrestlers are more than 10 years older than the Bishop McCort junior.
'If you told me this five years ago. I would've thought you're crazy like that's impossible,' Forrest said. 'There's never been high school guys that beat NCAA champs. But, you know, as soon as one person does it, it opens up the doors for others and it's like, why can't I (do that)?'
After making the U.S. Olympic Team Trials as a sophomore last year, it's evident that what Forrest is doing as a high schooler is unprecedented.
'I'm still just an 18-year-old. So, it's really cool to be in this position, but it's different,' Forrest said. 'I don't really have a lot of people to try and take advice from because they haven't really been in my situation. (I'm) just figuring it out as I'm going along.'
With the U.S. Open Championship, Forrest qualified for Final X, which is an event in June that will help determine Team USA for the Senior World Championships that are being held in Croatia.
Meanwhile, Bassett won the 45-kilogram U17 title over Chestnut Ridge's Kooper Deputy, who Bassett frequently trains with.
'It's truly incredible,' Bassett said. 'For a world team, it's two kids that live 40 minutes apart and train together, like, it's unbelievable.'
Winning the title meant a lot for Bassett after finishing fourth at this year's PIAA Championships.
'I've been putting in a lot of work. I've really been wanting that for three or four months ever since states,' Bassett said. 'I really wanted to win (the U.S. Open). I've been visualizing it for a while and just train really hard.'
Bassett qualified for the U17 World Championships in Athens, Greece.
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