If you’ve searched Women’s Wrestling and end up here expecting something about Sable, the famed WWE wrestler, stop right now. Today we’re talking about women who wrestle and lead young ladies by example.
We recently attended an AAU Wrestling Tournament in which 200 youngsters wrestled including divisions for girls and boys. It was amazing to see how many young ladies participated. Girls of all ages participating in a sport they love.
One of the key points to the Duane Harney Wrestling Invitational was the clinic hosted by Forrest Molinari. Molinari began her wrestling career at age 14 in California and has blossomed into one of the country’s best women’s freestyle talents. She is one of five women training with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.
Molinari’s stats include:
2019-20 Team USA Ranking: No. 1 at 65 kg/138.75 lbs.
Years on Team USA: 2 (2018-2020)
Residence: Iowa City, Iowa
Club: Titan Mercury WC
College: King Univ., Missouri Baptist
High School: Benicia, Calif.
Born: Sept. 4, 1995
Past Senior World Teams
2018 Senior Worlds (5th at 65kg)
Past Age-Group World Teams
2018 U23 Worlds (7th at 65kg), 2017 U23 Worlds (16th at 69kg), 2015 Junior Worlds (7th at 67kg)
Career highlights
• Fifth at 2018 World Championships
• 2018 and 2019 Final X champion
• 2019 U.S. Open champion
• 2018 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament champion
• Second at 2018 U.S. Open
• 2017 and 2018 U23 World Team Trials champion
• 2018 Pan American Championships champion
• 2018 Dave Schultz Memorial champion
• Third in 2017 U.S. Open
• 2015 Junior World Team member
• Fourth in 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials
• 2016 WCWA national champion for King Univ.
• Four-time WCWA All-American
Quite an impressive clinician and role model for the girls in attendance. Molinari is excited about the future of girls (and women’s) wrestling. She’s been wrestling for years and was very encouraging to the young participants. I heard “She was so cool” from our granddaughter. When we talked about Molinari’s accomplishments, our six-year-old wrestler was in awe.
The youth matched up with partners and learned technique from the Molinari. Her inspirational presence, accomplishments and persona were a huge boost to the boys, and especially the girls. Events like this can only further the continued growth of girls wrestling.
