A.J. Ferrari

Born and raised in Texas, Ferrari first attended Allen High School, where he became a two-time state champion and claimed a Walsh Jesuit Ironman title, as well as a Cadet Fargo National Championship in freestyle wrestling.[8][9][10][11] In 2018, Ferrari claimed a Cadet World Championship bronze medal before he and his family moved to New Jersey, where he attended Blair Academy as the top-ranked 195 pounder in the country.[12][13] While in Blair, he claimed a Beast of the East title by beating the second-ranked wrestler in the nation Jacob Cardenas (helping to the team title)[14] and another Ironman title (also helping to the team title).[15] He then transferred to Bergen Catholic High School,[16] where he was also dominant but not eligible to compete in the post-season, like in Blair.[16] After that, he moved back to Allen, Texas,[17] where his senior year was derailed by an ankle injury.[18] In 2020, Ferrari claimed the US Junior National Championship in freestyle.[3]

In October 2019, Ferrari, the top-recruit in the country, committed to the Oklahoma State University,[19] over others like Rutgers, Penn State, Nebraska and Ohio State.[20]

During regular season, Ferrari compiled a 12–1 record, with his only loss being handed to him by the highly-ranked Noah Adams from West Virginia.[21] Entering the post-season, Ferrari ran through the bracket to claim his first Big 12 Conference title, becoming the first true freshman to be named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament since 2005.[6] At the NCAAs, Ferrari, the fourth seed, clinched three matches to make the semifinals, notably defeating All-American Jacob Warner from Iowa and highly–ranked Tanner Sloan, before facing the Olympian and B1G Champion Myles Amine.[22] Ferrari was able to prove himself by soundly defeating the highly skilled three-time All-American on points to advance to the finals, taking out the top–seed.[23] In the finale, he defeated Nino Bonaccorsi from Pittsburgh, becoming an NCAA champion as a true freshman, the third in the Cowboys' history.[24]

In April, Ferrari bumped up 17 pounds to make his senior freestyle debut at age 19, at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials in April 1–3 as the sixth seed at 97 kilograms, in an attempt to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[25][26] In the first round, he was defeated by 2018 NCAA champion Michael Macchiavello, and lost controversially to 2019 graduate Ben Honis in the consolation bracket.[27]

With an undefeated 10–0 record midway through the season, Ferrari and Oklahoma State cross country runner Isai Rodriguez were involved in a serious car accident where Ferrari's car ended up completely destroyed and on fire, though neither sustained life-threatening injuries and were released from the hospital on the following days.[28] However, this took Ferrari out for the season as his injuries required surgery.[29]

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