Cal State Bakersfield’s wrestling team is ready to hit the mats this Friday for their season opener with dual matches. After a tough time rebuilding post-pandemic, Coach Luke Smith and his squad are feeling really optimistic about what they can achieve this season. With transfers like AJ Ferrari, a former national champion, joining the team, the Roadrunners are excited to show what they’re made of. Everyone’s got high hopes for Ferrari, especially since he’s coming back to competition after nearly three years away. So, the big question is: Will he rise to the occasion? From what we can tell, it looks like he just might!

Luke Smith, in his sixth year as head coach, is over the moon about what his team can achieve this season and in the years to come. He’s particularly eager for their season opener at Stanford, where they’ll kick things off with a dual meet against Utah Valley at 3 p.m., followed by a showdown with nationally-ranked Stanford at 7 p.m. Smith believes his athletes have the talent to pull off some amazing feats this year. “I think the future is bright,” he shared, hinting that he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve.

A new era for Cal State Bakersfield wrestling

In September year following a season where the Cal State Bakersfield wrestling team missed out on the NCAA Championships for the first time, in 50 years Head Coach Luke Smith embarked on a mission to enlist skilled student-athletes to revive the Roadrunner’s former prominence. The tide turned for the better when AJ Ferrari opted to join Bakersfield as his new base “We are very excited about AJ coming to Bakersfield,” Smith expressed enthusiastically while pointing out Ferrari’s status as one of the most high-profile recruits in the history of the program. His decision to join has generated a deal of excitement, around the team.

Another great acquisition is Gerrit Nijenhuis, who was a three-time national champion and wrestler who has done much in the wrestling ring. Pletcher placed in both 165 and 174 pounds when he was at Purdue as well as at 165 last year at OSU. He competed for the Sooners at 174 pounds last year and will have to do the same for the Roadrunners this year.

Coach Smith revealed the secret behind what gives him high hopes this year, particularly when he thinks about Ferrari: “He is so unbelievably disciplined with his diet and training, and he does all these little things. He’s very detail-oriented on some of those preparation things. And he’s very excited to go back out there.” Smith added, “He loves to wrestle, he loves to compete… And we’re excited for him.”

Smith stressed the significance of prioritizing progress, over chasing victories during matches at Stanford this weekend where he aims to evaluate his team’s strengths and identify areas, for development while taking on formidable competitors. He further shared his thoughts on the Ferrari’s potential: “I think a lot of people are still wondering whether he is still that guy and wanting to see what version of him that he’s going to be. But I think that’s a lot of motivation for him.” But what caused Ferrari to be absent, from the competition, for a span of three years?

AJ Ferrari’s road to recovery after a near-fatal accident

For wrestlers, injuries come with the territory, but AJ Ferrari’s situation in January 2022 was far more serious than a typical setback. While driving his 2019 Dodge Durango with track athlete Isai Rodriguez, Ferrari was involved in a horrific car crash near Perkins, Oklahoma. The accident happened around 8 p.m. when he tried to overtake three vehicles on a hill along Highway 33, colliding head-on with an oncoming car and then tumbling into a ditch.

Thankfully, everyone was wearing seatbelts, and despite the wreckage, both Ferrari and Rodriguez walked away with only minor injuries—an incredible stroke of luck given the circumstances. Naturally, Ferrari’s father was shaken up and took to social media to share the news, asking everyone to pray for his son. “Everyone please get on your knees and pray for AJ Jr.,” he wrote. In a twist of fate, OSU football offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn happened to be nearby and rushed to the scene, pulling both Ferrari and Rodriguez from the burning SUV just moments before it was completely engulfed in flames.

OSU wrestling head coach John Smith praised Dunn’s 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.” Despite the trauma of the crash, Ferrari was determined to bounce back and get back on the mat as soon as he could, eager to continue his wrestling career.