U17 World silver medalist and high school sophomore Jax Forrest defeats past NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello in the 57 kg finals at the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier
Forrest, Joseph highlight men’s freestyle champions at Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Watch: Last Chance OTT Qualifier Champion Interviews
FAIRFAX, Virginia – Six men’s freestyle standouts have secured a berth to the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials after earning top prize in a deep and talented Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier field on Sunday.
The youth movement arrived on Sunday at James W. Robinson Secondary School, highlighted by 57 kg champion Jax Forrest of Pennsylvania, who is a sophomore at Bishop McCourt Catholic High School. Forrest, a 2022 U17 World silver medalist, ran through Senior level staple Nathan Tomasello, a NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Ohio State, in the finals, 10-0.
2023 Bill Farrell silver medalist and U.S. Open third-place finisher Matthew Kolodzik stopped a magnificent run by 2021 U17 World champion Bo Bassett in the 65 kg finals. Kolodzik earned a 10-0 technical fall over the upstart high schooler. Like Forrest, Bassett is also a sophomore at Bishop McCourt.
Two-time NCAA champion for Penn State and 2022 U.S. Open runner-up Vincenzo Joseph earned a 2-0 decision over two-time age-group World Team member and NCAA All-American for Northwestern Yahya Thomas in the 74 kg finals.
The 86 kg finals featured two veteran competitors—past U.S. Open champion David McFadden and CISM Military World champion Morgan McIntosh. It was McFadden earning the Olympic Trials birth with a 12-2 technical fall. Both men were three-time NCAA All-Americans, McFadden at Virginia Tech and McIntosh at Penn State.
Also earning spots in the Olympic Trials were two-time U20 World Team member Christian Carroll at 97 kg and former Maryland Terrapin Jaron Smith at 125 kg.
Following today’s results in Fairfax, the complete 231-athlete field for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling has been finalized. Tune in to the action from Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa., April 19-20 on USA Network and Peacock. Tickets are still available for those seeking to attend in person.
Archived matches from the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier are available to watch on FloWrestling.com. Brackets and live results can be found on Trackwrestling.com.
For more information about the Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier, please visit usawrestlingevents.com.
2024 Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier | April 6-7, Fairfax, Va. #
Men’s Freestyle Results #
Medal Matches #
57 kg #
1st – Jax Forrest (Pennsylvania) tech. fall Nathan Tomasello (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-0
3rd – Joshua Rodriguez (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Anthony Molton (Buies Creek Wrestling Club), 5-2
65 kg #
1st – Matthew Kolodzik (New York AC) tech. fall Bo Bassett (Bishop McCort), 10-0
3rd – Ian Parker (Cavalier WC) dec. Aden Valencia (TMWC/ CARTC), 6-2
74 kg #
1st – Vincenzo Joseph (Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Yahya Thomas (New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 2-0
3rd – Doug Zapf (Pennsylvania RTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Elroy Perkin (West Coast RTC/ Titan Mercury WC), 15-12
86 kg #
1st – David McFadden (Pennsylvania RTC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Morgan McIntosh (Army WCAP), 12-2
3rd – John Gunderson (Panther WC-RTC) dec. Nelson Brands (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), 10-3
97 kg #
1st – Christian Carroll (Cowboy WC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Camden McDanel (Ohio), 11-0
3rd – Jacob Warner (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Cole Mirasola (Askren Wrestling Academy), 12-1
125 kg #
1st – Jaron Smith (Orange Crush) dec. Jacob Bullock (Indiana RTC), 6-5
3rd – Jordan Wood (Lehigh Valley WC/New York AC) tech. fall Braden Homsey (Iron WC), 11-0
Semifinals #
57 kg #
Nathan Tomasello (Ohio RTC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Brandon Courtney (Sunkist Kids WC), 10-0
Jax Forrest (Pennsylvania) dec. Joshua Rodriguez (Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC),13-4
65 kg #
Bo Bassett (Bishop McCort) tech. fall Anthony Ashnault (New York City RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 12-2
Matthew Kolodzik (New York AC) tech. fall Henry Porter (Indiana RTC), 11-0
74 kg #
Vincenzo Joseph (Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Terrell Barraclough (Nittany Lion WC), 5-0
Yahya Thomas (New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Doug Zapf (Pennsylvania RTC/Titan Mercury WC), 2-1
86 kg #
David McFadden (Pennsylvania RTC/Titan Mercury WC) tech. fall Aeoden Sinclair (Askren Wrestling Academy), 10-0
Morgan McIntosh (Army WCAP) dec. John Gunderson (Panther WC-RTC), 7-2
97 kg #
Christian Carroll (Cowboy WC/Titan Mercury WC) dec. Jacob Warner (Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC), 8-7
Camden McDanel (Ohio) dec. Cole Mirasola (Askren Wrestling Academy), 7-0
125 kg #
Jaron Smith (Orange Crush) fall Jordan Wood (Lehigh Valley WC/New York AC), 4:35
Jacob Bullock (Indiana RTC) inj. def. Daniel Erekson (Air Force RTC), 2:02
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