AJ Ferrari Fires off After Disappointing Loss to Rival at NCAA Finals

It’s been a whirlwind year for AJ Ferrari. From making a comeback after 2 years off the mat to starting afresh with a new team, things certainly haven’t been straightforward for the Texas native. But this is AJ Ferrari; of course he went undefeated all through the regular season and won an individual title at the Pac-12 Championships. But unfortunately, the fairytale has now come to an end, though Ferrari hasn’t let that diminish his spark.

But even a loss doesn’t erase all that he’s accomplished. That record of his? Prior to the NCAA Championships, he held an impressive record of 17-0. Nonetheless, he currently stands at 20-1. He was aiming for the top, but it just wasn’t to be, with Stephen Buchanan proving too big a hurdle in the semifinals of the Championships.

In a candid moment on his Instagram story, the CSUB wrestler expressed his sincere sentiments regarding the match, saying, “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 two wrestlers engaged in a grueling contest. The match highlighted the fierce competition between AJ Ferrari, ranked #2, and Stephen Buchanan, ranked #3, with the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler emerging victorious in a decisive 3-0 outcome. This event transcended a mere competition; with this defeat, Ferrari’s impressive 39-match winning streak came to an end, marking only the second loss in his career. Not to mention their heated rivalry.

Throughout the 2020–21 and 2021-22 wrestling seasons, the two competitors clashed on two occasions, with Ferrari claiming victory in both encounters. At that time, Ferrari was a Cowboy, securing his first victory at the Oklahoma State – Wyoming Dual, followed by a second win at the Big 12 Championships. However, on this occasion, Ferrari found himself in an unfamiliar position with the tables turned. But the NCAA championships for the CSUB wrestler are far from concluded, as he prepares to take the mat once more. And if his words are any indication, then confidence will be no problem.

AJ Ferrari’s formula for wrestling dominance

Before the NCAA finals, in a discussion with FloWrestling’s Christian Pyles, AJ Ferrari stated, “Everybody in the country, personally, I see there’s, like, everybody wants to talk about tiers. You guys were talking about tiers earlier in the season. My tiers are not always the most technical and the most sound. For me, it’s a mental tier.”

In straightforward terms, Ferrari maintains a superior mental edge over his competitors on the mat. However, this does not imply that he has abandoned his commitment to maintaining his physical strength. Recall the moment he achieved an impressive 605 lbs deadlift?

The CSUB wrestler shared his perspective on fellow competitors, stating, “Like, I feel like Jacob Cardenas is honestly just as technical and just as good a wrestler as Stephen Buchanan, as me. I just don’t feel like he’s there or here. I feel like you watch. Same thing with Trey Munoz and Stephen Little. They’re almost as good. But then that second, third period, they started to get a little bit off. Conditioning is not just physical. It’s mental. You know?”

It’s this mental strength that will serve him well as he prepares to take the mat once more at the Wells Fargo Arena. Ferrari’s focus is now fully directed at securing that third place finish. He will face Wyoming’s Joseph Novak in the consolation semifinals, potentially followed up by either Stephen Little of UA Little Rock or Jacob Cardenas of Cornell. If he does end up facing off against Little, it’ll be interesting to see if his past comments hold up.

For AJ Ferrari, his experience certainly gives him an edge. He acknowledges the strategies employed by his opponents; however, he maintains that his mental fortitude surpasses theirs. Will this mental fortitude help him secure a place on the podium? We’ll just have to wait and watch.