NCAA wrestling champion AJ Ferrari announces commitment to North Carolina

2021 NCAA champion and two-time All-American AJ Ferrari announced his commitment to North Carolina out of the NCAA transfer portal. He wrestled the 2024-25 season for Cal State Bakersfield.

Ferrari will have two years of eligibility remaining potentially three with a waiver he says, and plugs in as an instant national title contender at 197 pounds in 2026. He finished in 3rd place at the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

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His youngest brother Angelo is expected to be in title contention (184 pounds) in 2026, coming out of redshirt during his freshman season at Iowa. His middle brother Anthony wrestled at Long Island University this past season.

Ever the showman, Ferrari was back at the tournament for the first time in four years. After winning it all as a true freshman for Oklahoma State, a car accident and controversy off the mat followed during his sophomore campaign, where he already reached double digit wins.

After leaving the school post 2022, Ferrari did not wrestling collegiately again until this past season. That’s when he wrestled out west in his return, only losing in the NCAA semifinals.

“Same old, same old. Business is business,” Ferrari said ahead of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. “Here to perform, show out. Here for me to have fun, embrace the spotlight. I love performing, wrestling at the highest level. Show them the best. Win the national title at 197 and win two, three more.

“I want to cement my legacy, have fun, give God all the glory. Super grateful for all the support I have all throughout the world. A lot of prayers, big support system is why I’m here.”

Following time away from a school, and a brief moment where he might join his brothers at Iowa, Ferrari found himself out west this season. While the door was seemingly open for him to transfer again, he embraced Cal State Bakersfield all season long.

“I think it’s growing at a great rate excited for the future of wrestling and wrestling is growing and going to take over sports in the future,” Ferrari said of the sport in general, particularly being at a non-Power Four institution. “I think we need to embrace big personalities like myself big matches. And I think at the end of the day growing our sport is going to be key to have good personalities that show themselves.”

Ferrari is 50-2 in his career, with his only losses coming to 2025 NCAA champion Stephen Buchanan, who won it for Iowa this year, and former West Virginia wrestler Noah Adams. Ferrari was just a freshman in 2021 when he lost that match 3-2.