By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling
2021 World bronze medalist Forrest Molinari (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) has officially accepted her 65 kg women’s freestyle berth in Final X.

She will battle for a spot on the 2022 U.S. World Team in Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, on Friday, June 3 at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the campus of Oklahoma State University.

Molinari won a bronze medal at the 2021 World Championships in Oslo, Norway. It was her third appearance at the World Championships, after placing fifth in the 2018 and 2019 Senior Worlds. Molinari is a two-time U.S. Open champion (2019 and 2020), and won the 2018 Pan American Championships. She was a member of two U23 World Teams and a Junior World Team. She was a 2016 WCWA national champion for King University, and a four-time All-American in college. She started her college career at Missouri Baptist. She hails from Benicia, Calif., and was third in California state meet twice for Benicia High School.

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The Final X series will determine the 2022 U.S. Senior World Teams in men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling which will compete in Belgrade, Serbia, Sept. 10-18.

The Team Selection procedures for the U.S. World Teams in each style allows for 2021 Senior World medalists and 2020 Olympic medalists to advance directly to Final X at a specified weight class. Molinari has met this requirement and accepted her qualification.

There are 15 weight classes contested in Final X Stillwater, five in men’s freestyle, five in women’s freestyle and five in Greco-Roman. The weight classes assigned to the Final X Stillwater are:

·       Men’s freestyle: 57 kg, 61 kg, 70 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg

·       Women’s freestyle: 55 kg, 59 kg, 65 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg

·       Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg, 82 kg, 130 kg

The Final X opponent for Molinari will be determined at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, set for Coralville, Iowa, May 20-22.

Final X Stillwater will be held alongside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend, which is happening at the Hall of Fame facility next door, June 3-4.

In addition to Final X Stillwater, Final X New York (which serves as the Beat the Streets Annual Benefit this year), will be held at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Wednesday, June 8. There will be 15 other weight classes contested in New York.

FloWrestling will serve as the host broadcasting partner for both Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos, and Final X New York, presented by Tezos

Final X Stillwater, presented by Tezos
Friday, June 3
Gallagher-Iba Arena at Oklahoma State University

Declared Qualifiers to date

Women’s freestyle 55 kg – Jenna Burkert (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army WCAP) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Women’s freestyle 65 kg - Forrest Molinari (Tempe, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Women’s freestyle 68 kg - Tamyra Mensah Stock (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC/USOPTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s freestyle 97 kg - Kyle Snyder (State College, Pa./Titan Mercury WC/Nittany Lion WC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament

Men’s freestyle 61 kg – Daton Fix (Sand Springs, Okla./Titan Mercury WC/Cowboy RTC) vs. winner at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament