Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ferrari Headlines OSU's Top Ranked Recruiting Class
September 21, 2020 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER — The Oklahoma State wrestling program and coach John Smith brought in the nation's top recruiting class in 2020, with multiple top-50 recruits and several state champions included.
Headlining the class is the nation's former No. 1 overall recruit AJ Ferrari Jr.
Ferrari was born in Dallas, Texas, on July 24, 2001 to parents Adriana and AJ Ferrari Sr. He began his career at just four years old and said his dad wanted him to be able to protect himself, so he started taking jiu-jitsu classes.
"To be honest, I started with jiu-jitsu and it was a little bit less attacking, more defensive," Ferrari said. "After that, my dad put me into wrestling in Plano (Texas) and I just took off, I loved it."
Ferrari attended Blair Academy and Bergen Catholic high schools in New Jersey and posted an incredible 96-1 record before an injury derailed his senior season.
Amongst his high school accomplishments, Ferrari was a two-time Texas state champion at Allen High School. In 2017, he won the Walsh Jesuit Ironman championship, Fargo national championship and the Reno Tournament of Champions.
In 2018, Ferrari won the Reno Tournament of Champions as well as the Cadet Folkstyle National Championship, where he earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler award.
He also competed internationally, where he participated in the 2018 Cadet World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 92-kilogram weight class.
Ferrari, the No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound wrestler in the class of 2020 at the time of his commitment, said the biggest thing that played into his college decision was the OSU coaching staff.
"The family atmosphere here with the guys and the coaching staff… Just the whole 'OSU Cowboy' feel, I love it," Ferrari said. "The fact that now I'm just so close to my family is great and that's why I committed to Oklahoma State."
Ferrari is projected to wrestle at 197 pounds for OSU and said it is a dream come true to wrestle for coach Smith and is confident in the team's ability to win another national championship.
"The way I see it, the recruiting class was already stacked before I committed. This is a time for us to get back on top," Ferrari said. "I know it's going to happen, it's just a matter of time. People think it's far away, but it's going to be here just like that and I know it."
Headlining the class is the nation's former No. 1 overall recruit AJ Ferrari Jr.
Ferrari was born in Dallas, Texas, on July 24, 2001 to parents Adriana and AJ Ferrari Sr. He began his career at just four years old and said his dad wanted him to be able to protect himself, so he started taking jiu-jitsu classes.
"To be honest, I started with jiu-jitsu and it was a little bit less attacking, more defensive," Ferrari said. "After that, my dad put me into wrestling in Plano (Texas) and I just took off, I loved it."
Ferrari attended Blair Academy and Bergen Catholic high schools in New Jersey and posted an incredible 96-1 record before an injury derailed his senior season.
Amongst his high school accomplishments, Ferrari was a two-time Texas state champion at Allen High School. In 2017, he won the Walsh Jesuit Ironman championship, Fargo national championship and the Reno Tournament of Champions.
In 2018, Ferrari won the Reno Tournament of Champions as well as the Cadet Folkstyle National Championship, where he earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler award.
He also competed internationally, where he participated in the 2018 Cadet World Championships and won a bronze medal at the 92-kilogram weight class.
Ferrari, the No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound wrestler in the class of 2020 at the time of his commitment, said the biggest thing that played into his college decision was the OSU coaching staff.
"The family atmosphere here with the guys and the coaching staff… Just the whole 'OSU Cowboy' feel, I love it," Ferrari said. "The fact that now I'm just so close to my family is great and that's why I committed to Oklahoma State."
Ferrari is projected to wrestle at 197 pounds for OSU and said it is a dream come true to wrestle for coach Smith and is confident in the team's ability to win another national championship.
"The way I see it, the recruiting class was already stacked before I committed. This is a time for us to get back on top," Ferrari said. "I know it's going to happen, it's just a matter of time. People think it's far away, but it's going to be here just like that and I know it."
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