With all the chatter surrounding AJ Ferrari and Carter Starocci, it’s easy to get lost in the drama. But Ferrari himself has set that aside, shifting the conversation toward Penn State’s success and what truly makes them dominant. After all, achieving 13 National Championship titles and 55 individual NCAA National Championships titles since the program’s inception in 1909 is no easy feat. While many credit elite coaching and top-tier recruits, what does Ferrari believe to be the real key to their dynasty?

Never one to hold back, Ferrari gave his raw and unfiltered take on what separates Penn State from the rest of the wrestling world. According to him, it’s not just about training harder—it’s about living the right way, a philosophy he believes has fueled the program’s success year after year.

Ferrari made it clear that Penn State’s success isn’t just about their legendary coaching staff. He believes that the mental and spiritual discipline of their athletes plays a huge role in why they keep producing champions. “I really give them credit. That’s why I think Penn State is doing so great. I think Penn has great coaches, but all their guys live a God lifestyle, most of them. You know what I mean?” Ferrari explained.

Every coaching staff differs, but it is apparent that Cael Sanderson and his coaching staff have looked to follow a more zen style of coaching. The unique aspect of it, you may ask? Well, even in the closest matches, the coaching staff never shows emotion. Albeit, it’s not easy as associate head coach of the wrestling program Cody Sanderson says he feels like he’s “burning up inside with emotion.” 

Another thing that the 11x NCAA Division I team titles coach has tried to instill in his wrestlers has been that of focus, where the wrestlers are supposed to zone in on their own performance and not be distracted by the other elements. But that is not all that the 23-year-old pointed out.

He even dived into Bo Nickal’s transition into the UFC, suggesting that faith and discipline keep athletes grounded and allow them to thrive beyond college wrestling. “Bo Nickal’s getting success in the UFC because God sees he’s living the right lifestyle,” Ferrari added. And rightfully so, the three-time NCAA Division I national champion (finalist in 2016) deserves the praise. Once he moved to UFC, he has exposed himself to a more wide-ranging skillset of martial arts. Learning these news disciplines and working out how to pair them for elite wrestling basse has been a constant source of joy for him, which is also fueled by his desire to improve constantly.

Though the 23-year wrestler had good things to say about Penn State, the same hasn’t been the case for one of its wrestler. Let’s just say some sort of beef is involved.

AJ Ferrari v/s Carter Starocci- Far from over

The tension between Ferrari and Starocci has been brewing for months, starting with a simple comment that turned into one of the most heated rivalries in NCAA wrestling. Last year, Starocci made waves by suggesting that he could move up to the 197-pound weight class—Ferrari’s domain. “Yeah, I can get a crack at 197 too. I don’t mind,” Starocci stated.

Ferrari didn’t take kindly to that. “There’s a lot of talk about some little punk kid Carter Starocci bumping up,” Ferrari fired back. “A safe recommendation for Carter is to stay down at 174 or 184 pounds—don’t come up to 197—you can’t handle this horsepower.”

The exchange set off a war of words between the two NCAA stars, with fans speculating about a potential super match. Ferrari, never one to back down, challenged Starocci to settle the debate on the mat, but Starocci appeared to dismiss the idea—at least for now.

Instead, Starocci took his shots through social media, posting training videos and captions that seemed to directly mock Ferrari. “Going up in weight was a great thing,” he wrote, referencing his preparation for his historic fifth NCAA title.

Their beef took another turn when Starocci dropped a scathing Instagram post, calling Ferrari “broke” and “desperate.” The personal shots escalated things to an entirely new level, with Starocci making it clear that he sees Ferrari as just another stepping stone on his path to dominance.

Ferrari, on the other hand, isn’t interested in just talking. He’s extended challenges, writing, “I’ll fight you in MMA, down at 190lbs (so you don’t cry and have built-in excuses) any day of the week—anytime, anywhere.”

Although the two have not met in a mat session as yet, the feud has just intensified. With Starocci pursuing history with his fifth NCAA championship and Ferrari trying to regain his place at the top, fans can’t help but wonder—will they finally settle it in what has been touted as the most highly anticipated showdown in recent wrestling history?