AJ Ferrari Season 2025-26

Honors & Awards

• 2021 NCAA Champion (197)
• NCAA All-American (2021, 2025)
• 2025 Pac-12 Champion (197)
• Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week (Dec. 24, 2024, Jan. 14, 2025)
• Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year
• 2021 Big 12 Champion (197)
• 2021 Big 12 Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler

2024-25 (Redshirt Sophomore at Cal State Bakersfield)
NCAA Championships - 3rd (5-1) - 197 pounds

• First Round: No. 3 Ferrari (CSU-B) dec. No. 30 Ian Bush (WVU) 8-1
• Second Round: No. 3 Ferrari (CSU-B) dec. No. 19 Andy Smith (VT) 5-1
• Quarterfinal: No. 3 Ferrari (CSU-B) dec. No. 6 Mac Stout (PITT) 2-0
• Semifinal: No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (IOWA) dec. No. 3 Ferrari (CSU-B) 3-0
• Cons. Semi: No. 3 Ferrari (CSU-B) dec. No. 15 Joseph Novak (WYO) 5-3
• Third place match: No. 3 Ferrari (CSU-B) dec. No. 1 Jacob Cardenas (MICH) 2-0

Pac-12 Championships - 1st (2-0) - 197 pounds

• Semifinal: Ferrari (CSU-B) tech. fall Cole Jackson (Cal Poly) 23-6 (5:53)
• Final: Ferrari (CSU-B) dec. Stephen Little (Little Rock) 2-0

Regular Season - 197 pounds

• 14-0 overall regular season record, 14-0 in duals
• Bonus points: two pins, six tech. falls, five major decisions

2021-22 (Sophomore/INJ at Oklahoma State)
Regular Season - 197 pounds

• 10-0 overall regular season record, 10-0 in duals before season was ended by injury
• Bonus points: two pins, two tech. falls, three major decisions

2020-21 (Freshman at Oklahoma State)
NCAA Championships - 1st (5-0) - 197 pounds

• First Round: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) tech. fall No. 29 Colin McCraken (Kent State) 17-2 (4:52)
• Second Round: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) dec. No. 13 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) 5-0
• Quarterfinal: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) dec. No. 5 Jacob Warner (IOWA) 3-2
• Semifinal: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) dec. No. 1 Myles Amine (MICH) 5-1
• Final: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) dec. No. 6 Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) 4-2

Big 12 Championships - 1st (3-0) - 197 pounds

• Quarterfinal: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) dec. No. 5 Jake Woodley (OU) 8-4
• Semifinal: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) dec. No. 1 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) 7-1
• Final: No. 4 Ferrari (OSU) dec. No. 2 Stephen Buchanan (WYO) 13-8

Regular Season - 197 pounds

• 12-1 overall regular season record, 10-0 in duals
• Bonus points: one pin, four tech. falls, two major decisions

Joining the Huskers
Two-time All-American and 2021 NCAA Champion AJ Ferrari will join the Nebraska wrestling program as a transfer, Head Coach Mark Manning announced. The two-time conference champion has tallied a 51-2 career record, and has finished top three in both of his NCAA tournament appearances.

The rising redshirt junior spent his previous collegiate seasons at Oklahoma State (2020-22) and Cal State Bakersfield (2024-25). Most recently, Ferrari finished his campaign as a Roadrunner with a 22-1 record, claiming third place at the NCAA tournament in Philadelphia. Originally from Allen, Texas, he began his college wrestling career as a Cowboy under coach John Smith, where he went 20-1 his freshman year, claiming the 197 national title and outscoring his opponents 195-55. He became only the third true freshman in OSU history to win a national title. His second year was cut short, having gone 10-0, due to injury. Ferrari also took an Olympic redshirt in 2023-24.

“We’re excited about AJ joining our family here at Nebraska,” Manning said. “This decision was a collaborative effort from my team, staff and our administration. AJ’s wrestling accomplishments speak to the dedication, work ethic and competitive spirit that aligns with our program. We believe AJ adds tremendous value to our team’s fight and passion for our sport.“ 

Prior to college, Ferrari was a 2020 graduate from Allen High School where he was coached by Jerry Best. He collected a 96-1 record in his prep career, ranked the No. 1 overall wrestler in his class and a two-time Texas state champion. Also competing at Blair Academy (N.J.) and Bergen Catholic (N.J.), he had a decorated prep campaign. Ferrari was the 2017 champion at both the Fargo Freestyle and Walsh Jesuit Ironman tournaments. He earned a bronze medal representing the United States at the 2018 Cadet Freestyle World Championships and won the 2018 Junior Folkstyle National Championship.

Personal

• Parents: Albert and Adriana Ferrari
• Siblings: Alexa, Anthony, Angelo and Alyssa

Prep Career

• Graduated from Allen High School (Texas) in 2020
• 96-1 high school record (Allen, Blair Academy, Bergen Catholic)
• Ranked the No. 1 overall wrestler in the class of 2020 at the time of his commitment
• Two-time Texas state champion
• 2017 Fargo Freestyle Champion
• 2017 Walsh Jesuit Ironman Champion
• 2017, 2018 Reno Tournament of Champions First-Place
• 2018 Cadet Freestyle World Championships (Bronze)
• 2018 Junior Folkstyle National Champion

Career Statistics

Year	Overall	Dual	Pins	TF	MD	NCAA	Big 12/Pac-12/Big Ten
2020-21	20-1	10-0	1/0	5	2	1st (5-0)	1st (3-0)
2021-22^	10-0	10-0	2/0	2	3	--	--
2024-25	21-1	14-0	2/0	7	5	3rd (5-1)	1st (2-0)
Career	51-2	34-0	5/0	14	10	10-1	5-0

 ^ Notes season ended early by injury.