Final X Match-up: Emma Bruntil vs Forrest Molinari
Final X Match-up: Emma Bruntil vs Forrest Molinari
A preview of the match between Emma Bruntil and Forrest Molinari at Final X on Saturday, June 10.
Final X, presented by Tezos, is Saturday, June 10 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Final X determines the 2023 U.S. Senior World teams in all three Olympic disciplines: men’s and women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.
Below is a women’s freestyle preview of the 68-kilogram match between Emma Bruntil and Forrest Molinari.
Key Credentials
Emma Bruntil, 24
— 2023 World Team Trials champion (68 kg)
— 2023 US Open runner-up (65 kg)
— 2023 Ibrahim Mustafa silver medalist (65 kg)
— 2022 U23 World teamer (65 kg)
— 2022 US Open champion
— 2022 Zouhaier Sghaier silver medalist (65 kg)
— 2022 Matteo Pellicone silver medalist (65 kg)
— 2022 Yasar Dogu bronze medalist (65 kg)
— 2022 Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov champion (65 kg)
— 2022 Ivan Yarigan champion (65 kg)
— 2021 U23 World teamer (62 kg)
— 2019 US National champion (62 kg)
— NCWWC champion for McKendree in 2020 (136 lbs) and 2021 (143 lbs)
Forrest Molinari, 27
— 2023 US Open champion (68 kg)
— 2023 Pan-Am champion (68 kg)
— 2023 Ibrahim Moustafa champion (68 kg)
— 2022 Yasar Dogu champion (65 kg)
— 2022 Ivan Yarigan silver medalist (65 kg)
— 2022 Pan-Am champion (65 kg)
— 2021 World bronze medalist (65 kg)
— 2019 US National champion (68 kg)
— 2019 World teamer - 5th (65 kg)
— 2018 Pan-Am champion (65 kg)
— 2018 World teamer - 5th (65 kg)
— 2018 U23 World teamer (65 kg)
— 2017 U23 World teamer (69 kg)
— 2015 Junior World teamer (67 kg)
— 2016 WCWA champion for King (155 lbs)
Match History
Molinari leads the series, 3-1
— 2022 Yasar Dogu quarterfinals: Molinari over Bruntil, Fall 5:31
— 2022 Ivan Yarigan finals: Bruntil over Molinari, 4-2
— 2021 World Team Trials: Molinari over Bruntil 4-3
— 2021 World Team Trials: Molinari over Bruntil, 9-0
How They Reached Final X
Molinari reached Final X by winning this year’s US Open. She entered as the one-seed and won by fall over Savannah Pitts (R16), 12-0 over Love Dale (quarters), 14-4 over Katerina Lange (semis), and by fall over Alex Glaude (finals).
Bruntil reached Final X by winning the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. She entered as the three-seed and won 10-0 over Chloe Ogden (quarters), 12-2 over Katerina Lange (semis), and 10-0 over Alex Glaude (finals).
What Can You Expect?
Here we go again. Another round of Emma Bruntil vs Forrest Molinari. And we can’t wait.
These two have met four times with Molinari holding a 3-1 edge. They faced off in the best-of-three series at the 2021 World Team Trials with Molinari taking both matches (4-3 and 9-0), which led to a bronze medal at the World Championships.
Molinari moved up to 68 kilograms after a lengthy stint at 65. She won the US Open to earn a spot in Final X. Bruntil stayed at 65 kg but moved up to 68 for the World Team Trials Challenge tournament when she finished second to Macey Kilty at the US Open.
A change in weight hasn’t affected either wrestler. In fact, both look better than ever at 68 kg.
Molinari likes to impose her will on an opponent and keep the pace high. Her win in the Ibrahim Moustafa finals over World medalist Koumba Larroque was a master’s class in breaking an opponent.
Be ready to wrestle for an entire six minutes when facing Molinari. Actually, be ready for more than that because she likely won’t stop driving out of bounds even if the clock stops.
Bruntil has the tools and the disposition to win this series. She loves to compete and has a tendency to get better when she gets more matches under her belt. The Acme, Washington, native looked sharp at the World Team Trials and has every reason to feel confident heading into Final X.
Circle this series if you like to watch good wrestling. This one will be fun.
Watch Emma Bruntil's 10-0 tech over Alex Glaude in the finals of the 2023 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Watch Forrest Molinari earn a fall over Alex Glaude in the finals of the 2023 US Open
Final X is the Beat the Streets New York Benefit
It is the second straight year Final X will serve as the Beat the Streets New York Annual Benefit. This year’s event will be the 13th BTSNY Annual Benefit. These unique and electrifying annual events help BTSNY raise more than $1 million each year to support local youth wrestling programs which empower young people in New York City. The BTSNY Annual Benefit after-party will follow the conclusion of Final X. Benefit tickets and sponsorship packages (Final X plus exclusive after-party celebration access), that also provide the best wrestling-event seats, are available at give.btsny.org/beatthestreetsbenefit2023. For more information on ticket packages, email Katrin Pokalyukhin at katrin@btsny.org. Event-only tickets for Final X without access to the BTSNY after-party celebration are available on Ticketmaster.