AJ Ferrari gets into scuffle after Soldier Salute tournament win
Former Oklahoma State national champion AJ Ferrari finally returned to a wrestling mat but it ended in a DQ.
Wrestling at the Soldier Salute Tournament after an official visit at Iowa, Ferrari defeated potential future teammate Zach Glazier 5-2 in overtime to claim first place at 197 pounds. However, he shoved Glazier post-match, who then got into his face.
That’s where more yelling ensued and Ferrari threw a punch. The chaos can be seen below.
Ferrari, who’s been out of wrestling since midway through the 2021-22 season due to a car accident and eventually legal trouble, could be back this season.
However, this scuffle doesn’t seem to bode well for his chances at Iowa. His younger brothers, Anthony and Angelo, have ties with the program.
Anthony was expected to enroll at Iowa, but he wrestled at the tournament while Angelo, a high school senior and recently ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound nationwide, committed to the Hawkeyes back in May.
AJ Ferrari won the 2021 197 pound NCAA title at Oklahoma State as a true freshman. The following season, he was 10-0 before he and cross country runner Isai Rodriguez were involved in a serious car accident.
After Ferrari was transported to the hospital for surgery, his season was over. But that wasn’t all for the controversial champion.
In July 5th, 2022, a woman filed for an emergency protective order against Ferrari after he allegedly sexually assaulted her three days earlier. By July 14th, Oklahoma State head coach John Smith confirmed he dismissed Ferrari from the program.
On August 3rd, 2022, Ferrari was charged with sexual battery in Payne County District Court. Earlier this year, on October 6th, Ferrari’s case was dismissed.
So what remains now? No Ferrari is officially on the roster and AJ could be in limbo. While there are rumors across social media that he could make his college decision by New Year’s, Saturday’s incident definitely threw a wrench in the plans.
Ferrari has a 29-1 career record in his season-plus at Oklahoma State. En route to an NCAA title as a freshman, he defeated former Michigan star Myles Amine, who went on to win a Bronze Medal at the Olympics, before taking out Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi in the 197 pound finals.
There were rumors Ferrari could return this year, but by the second semester. As of now, he is not committed nor enrolled at a school, although it seems like Iowa is still the likely landing spot.