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California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

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Hannah Walker

Wrestling

Smith Adds NCAA Champion AJ Ferrari to Bakersfield Roster

The Cal State Bakersfield wrestling program has welcomed 2021 NCAA Champion AJ Ferrari to the 2024-25 squad.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Following a challenging season that saw Cal State Bakersfield's wrestling program miss out on the NCAA Championships for the first time in 50 years, Head Coach Luke Smith set out to recruit talented student-athletes who could help the current roster return the Roadrunners to prominence. Smith's mission took a huge step forward when former NCAA Champion AJ Ferrari found himself a new home in Bakersfield.

"We are very excited about AJ coming to Bakersfield," Smith said of one of the highest-profile signees in Cal State Bakersfield's history. "His commitment has created a lot of buzz around the program. He is a difference maker who I expect to be contending for another National title this season. AJ is driven and ready to make this comeback. We look forward to the opportunity of helping him become the best version of himself."
 
A native of Allen, Texas, Ferrari was ranked the No. 1 overall wrestler in the recruiting class of 2020 following a prep career in which he earned a pair of State titles. The 197 pounder proved his talent and work ethic could translate to the collegiate level when Ferrari became just the third true freshman in Oklahoma State University history to win an NCAA Championship.

Ferrari's title earned him a bid to the U.S. Olympic Trials and saw the skyrocketing student-athlete ranked as the consensus No. 1 wrestler in his weight class. He was 10-0 during the 2021-22 season before an automobile accident ended his bid at back-to-back championships.

Following a redshirt season in 2022-23, Ferrari took an Olympic redshirt in 2023-24 and he was being recruited from the transfer portal by the top programs in the country. Ultimately, the former NCAA Champion paid a visit to Bakersfield and chose to join Smith and the `Runners for a new beginning.

One of the most storied wrestling programs on the West Coast, Cal State Bakersfield is looking for its first All-American since 2014, and the program has not had a National Champion since Stephen Neal (1998 and 1999). Ferrari's athletic prowess sets him up as a strong contender to jump start Bakersfield's return to success.

"I truly feel we will be much improved this season," Smith said. "The additions of AJ Ferrari and three-time National Qualifier Gerrit Nijenhuis are huge. Gerrit is 100% capable of getting on the podium. We also have some returners that are capable of surprising a lot of people this year."

Smith continued on to describe his veteran experience: "Richie Sandoval and Guillermo Escobedo both had a good summer competing against national level competition. Santino Sanchez and Brock Rogers were both a little banged up at the end of last year but are healthy this year. Jake Andrews made big improvements last year and was right in there with multiple national qualifiers. We have some other guys that have been putting in work and will be stepping in and/or looking to challenge for a starting spot as well. It should be an exciting season. We hope to see a lot of people at our home meets and the Roadrunner Open."

Stay tuned here at GoRunners.com and follow @CSUBwrestling on Twitter and Instagram for the most up-to-date information about CSUB Wrestling. Smith plans to continue announcing the newest `Runners to the squad as well as releasing the 2024-25 schedule in the near future. If you are interested in season tickets for CSUB Wrestling matches, submit a Ticket Info Request.

~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Jake Andrews

Jake Andrews

285
6' 3"
Junior
Brock Rogers

Brock Rogers

149
5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
Santino Sanchez

Santino Sanchez

133
5' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
Guillermo Escobedo

Guillermo Escobedo

165
5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Jake Andrews

Jake Andrews

6' 3"
Junior
285
Brock Rogers

Brock Rogers

5' 11"
Redshirt Junior
149
Santino Sanchez

Santino Sanchez

5' 6"
Redshirt Freshman
133
Guillermo Escobedo

Guillermo Escobedo

5' 9"
Redshirt Sophomore
165
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