Forrest Wins NCAA Title, Puts Johnstown in Spotlight

Jax Forrest's victory at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships brought significant positive attention to Johnstown, which was mentioned frequently during ESPN's coverage of the tournament. The Bishop McCort Catholic graduate defeated Ohio State's Ben Davino 5-2 in the highlight match of the night, capping off a remarkable season that included a U23 world title in 2025 and becoming the youngest wrestler to make the U.S. senior world team in 50 years.

Forrest moved to Johnstown in seventh grade and credits the local wrestling culture with transforming his mindset. He practiced daily with future Division I wrestlers including Bo Bassett and Melvin Miller (Virginia Tech), Sam Herring (Penn State), and others who helped elevate his game. Despite some initial reluctance from locals to claim him as their own, Forrest's success has put Johnstown on the national wrestling map.