Has AJ Ferrari Been Involved in a Car Accident? Learn About the Horrific Incident Faced by the NCAA Wrestling Champion

The USA’s dominance in amateur wrestling on the international stage is no fluke. Instead, it stems from the popularity and high standards set by the collegiate wrestling scene, which continues to produce talented stars year after year. From Penn State to OSU, there’s no shortage of exceptional programs for those aspiring to pursue a career on the mat. Among these stars, AJ Ferrari has certainly carved out a niche fanbase for himself, thanks to his scintillating triumphs.

A former Oklahoma State Cowboy, Ferrari’s name is well-known within the NCAA circuit. However, his journey hasn’t always been smooth. Like many wrestlers, the 23-year-old has faced life-threatening situations””but not on the mat. Instead, an unexpected turn of events nearly brought his career, and life, to an abrupt end.

Learn about AJ Ferrari’s serious car crash in 2022

For wrestlers, being injured isn’t uncommon. But for AJ Ferrari, things were much more serious than a muscle strain. In January of 2022, the OSU star was involved in a horrific car crash near Perkins, Oklahoma. According to an article by ESPN from January 25, 2022, Ferrari was driving his 2019 Dodge Durango along with track and field athlete Isai Rodriguez. The crash occurred around 8 pm when Ferrari attempted to overtake 3 vehicles while driving on a hill on Highway 33. During this time, Ferrari’s vehicle collided with a car coming from the opposite direction and then tumbled out of the highway before settling in a ditch.

Thankfully, all passengers and drivers in the incident wore seatbelts and didn’t suffer any major injuries. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol listed the accident as “passing in a no-passing zone.” Ferrari and his buddy were returning to Stillwater after the former made an appearance at a youth wrestling practice in Cushing.

Naturally, Ferrari’s father was shaken by the harrowing news and took to social media to urge, “Everyone please get on your knees and pray for AJ Jr. I have no details but he got into a bad wreck.” OSU football offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn was luckily present nearby and pulled Ferrari and Rodriguez out of the vehicle. Soon after Dunn’s courageous rescue mission, Ferrari’s SUV was engulfed in flames. OSU wrestling HC John Smith hailed his colleague for his bravery saying, “I don’t know how many people would go to a car that was on fire and pull them out, but I’m sure glad Coach Dunn was there.”

It was later revealed that their injuries were minor and no serious threat to Ferrari and Rodriguez was present. “If you saw the car and AJ, you would know this was a miracle,“ AJ’s father said. Considering the talented star that Ferrari is, it was only natural that he wanted to be back in the middle of the action as soon as he could.

When did AJ Ferrari make his comeback after recovering from the car crash?

AJ remains one of the most celebrated freestyle wrestlers in the USA’s collegiate circuit. Unsurprisingly, while recovering from his accident, he was eager to get back on the mat. In 2021, as a true freshman, Ferrari clinched the NCAA title. Naturally, fans were excited to see him wrestle again. Their wishes were granted in 2023 when AJ made his long-awaited comeback at the prestigious Soldier Salute in Coralville, Iowa.

In the tournament, Ferrari took on the black and golden stripes of the Iowa Hawkeyes and stomped through all opponents to reach the semis. He even went on to win the finals, but a bizarre incident prompted the officials to reverse the decision and disqualify him from the tournament altogether. The unexpected nature of the incident seemed to derail his brother Anthony’s focus as well and both Ferrari brothers failed to make the most of the opportunity at hand.

However, that didn’t deter the 2021 Big 12 champ, as he was seen training on Hawkeye grounds once again. Despite this, Iowa remained silent about adding AJ to its roster, leaving his future uncertain, even with three years left in his collegiate career. Amidst the confusion, Ferrari hinted at a potential transition to MMA and was even spotted training with Marine Jordan More. But even that wasn’t finalized and Ferrari kept teasing his fans about his future plans for the NCAA.

It was only in August this year that AJ finally committed to Cal State Bakersfield to make his much-awaited comeback a reality. But can he retain his incredible form from OSU? What do you think? Tell us with a comment.