One of the top wrestlers in the nation attends Cal State Bakersfield and has started the season with 14 wins and 0 losses. AJ Ferrari committed to Bakersfield in Aug. 2024. Previously, he attended Oklahoma State University where he won his first national championship as a true freshman, being the first wrestler in OSU history to win a national title at that age, which drew eyes from many colleges and wrestlers from around the country.
Ferrari has been wrestling since the age of four, which makes it a very important part of his life. Ferrari’s talent is well known on the mats but his growth outside of wrestling has been a focus for him and his coach, Luke Smith.
“They help you grow as a person, and that’s been key for me this year at California State Bakersfield with coach Smith,” Ferrari said.
Smith has helped grow as a person and focus on his wrestling journey, said Ferrari.
Ferrari’s growth has not only been on wrestling but on his character outside of his athletic ability. He gave his coaches a lot of the credit when talking about his efforts to become better as a wrestler.
“Coach Smith has done a really good job at helping me grow as a person,” said Ferrari.“I’ve been all over the country, but this was the place for me where coach Smith has really helped me to grow as a person not only as a wrestler.”
Transferring to a smaller school has not been an issue for Ferrari bringing in name, image, likeness (NIL) deals. He has brought in deals with Nutrazone, Toyota, Butcher Block, as well as having a partnership with Collective Gym here in Bakersfield. These NIL deals demonstrate his success as a wrestler as he explains his winning mentality.
“I find a way to be successful and that’s what I am going to do this year. I’m going to find a way to win a national championship,” said Ferrari.
Ferrari is ranked #4 and weighing in at 197 pounds has a legitimate chance to win his way to a national championship.
“Whenever I wrestle Cal Baptist this next week, for me it’s just another match. But, for these guys it’s their biggest match of the year. I’m the biggest match in all of 197. Even if some guys are ranked higher than me, I am the only guy who has a national championship,” said Ferrari confidently while talking about his upcoming match against CBU.
This confidence has helped him maintain being undefeated and only allowed two takedowns this year to opponents. With not being taken down often he has kept an advantage against his opponents even when not having his best day. Ferrari’s 43-1 career stands out considering in his NCAA career he has only lost one time to Noah Adams who was a top 20 ranked wrestler in 2021.
What separates Ferrari from other wrestlers has not only been his success on the mat, but his faith in God which has helped grow him as a person. “My faith in God has been key for me to have it in perspective and to know God is with me no matter where I go. Sometimes when I was younger I got away from that. I got caught up in the wrong things and in the hype of being a national champion. But, for me I’ve gotten back to my roots,”said Ferrari.
Ferrari has been focused on his faith at CSUB to improve outside of his wrestling. CSUB has given Ferrari another chance to compete following a 14 month legal dispute which led to a dismissal from Oklahoma State’s wrestling program following this incident. Although these events took place, CSUB still took Ferrari into their wrestling program. This has made them more competitive as well as seeking to have its first wrestling national champion since Steven Neal in 1999. New opportunity has paved way for Ferrari to succeed and be given a second chance here at Cal State Bakersfield.
Ferrari came here for a second shot at wrestling. Since then he has been undefeated and is aiming to compete for a second national title. The stakes are high for Ferrari to bring our first national title for CSUB wrestling since 1999.
