In the current NCAA wrestling season, AJ Ferrari was unbeaten. Nevertheless, in the contest against Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan, his impressive streak came to an end. Ferrari stands at an impressive 20-1 this season, but that loss is bound to be a tough blow for Mr. Fast Twitch, who had his sights set on clinching the prestigious NCAA title.
At the conclusion of the day, Ferrari issued pointed comments regarding wrestling, asserting, “Everybody comes at me. I’m trying to grow this sport. You guys that want me to just hide in the corner. And then our sport dies, and they cut all of our funding. And you guys wonder why wrestling is dying. You guys wonder. I’m beating myself, and I’m trying to grow our sport. If you guys want our sport to continue to grow and evolve, we can not only do it in here, but do it in, like, 80,000-person football stadiums. That’s what I want to do. But we can’t do that if we don’t embrace people’s personalities and a couple of little controversies.”
This was a significant declaration from the CSUB wrestler, and you won’t believe what happened next. The spotlight turned to Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs, who expressed his views on the wrestler, saying, “AJ Ferrari. Beautiful closing interview.” What was Ferrari aiming to communicate in his message? It’s really straightforward!
Whenever the wrestler speaks, it instantly stirs up controversy, even though his intentions are to enhance the sport for both his fellow competitors and the fans. Ferrari recognizes the current landscape of wrestling and is eager to play a role in its development through any available avenues. He envisions grand aspirations for the sport, aiming for matches to be showcased on a larger scale to reach a broader audience. But to what end?
AJ Ferrari. Beautiful closing interview.
— Jordan Burroughs (@alliseeisgold) March 22, 2025
Indeed, just to elevate college wrestling to new heights. Nonetheless, the CSUB wrestler has a modest appeal. What is it? He seeks acknowledgment for the opinions he holds and desires the freedom to express his distinct personality within the wrestling arena. Ferrari is an exceptional competitor, and do you recall his remarks after facing defeat against the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler?
AJ Ferrari’s honest admission following defeat
AJ Ferrari has undergone a significant transformation over the years, evolving into a more seasoned wrestler. Following his first defeat of the season, he took to social media to express his sentiments, stating, “A big Apology to my Family, Friends, Fans, Supporters, and Sponsors. Tonight was a [s***] performance and I have no excuses. I am still 2-1 against you Stephen Buchanan but you got the last dip when it counted and I admit it hurts. But I’m definitely not done yet.”
The match showcased the intense rivalry between AJ Ferrari and Stephen Buchanan, with the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler claiming victory in a clear 3-0 result. This event was more than just a competition; with this defeat, Ferrari’s remarkable 39-match winning streak concluded, representing only the second loss in his career. Additionally, there is some background between the two wrestlers!
During the wrestling seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22, the two athletes faced off twice, with Ferrari emerging victorious in both matchups. And where was it? During that period, Ferrari emerged as a standout competitor, clinching his inaugural victory at the Oklahoma State–Wyoming Dual and subsequently achieving another triumph at the Big 12 Championships. Now, only time will tell what Ferrari does in his next matches to secure that position in the NCAA finals.
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