AJ Ferrari’s wrestling future took a sharp turn. Not on the mat, but through a quiet storm building off it. Less than a month after announcing his move to UNC, Ferrari’s commitment was undone. What appeared to be a routine transfer from Cal State Bakersfield quickly became a full-stop exit. Behind the scenes, one woman played a pivotal role in pulling the plug. And now she’s reportedly making calls to keep him out of other programs, too.

The reversal wasn’t initiated by Ferrari or even the UNC wrestling staff. Reports point to the administration stepping in, but the real push came from outside the university’s official channels. Madison Soltys, the longtime partner of a prominent UNC wrestling alumnus, took a stand. She didn’t speak in press releases or tweets, but her message carried weight. “It taints the legacy of UNC wrestling, something that they have been building on in decades,” she said. That legacy, in her eyes, was too important to let Ferrari’s name become part of it.

While administrators made the final call, sources say Soltys stirred the pot early. Raising concerns, questioning the optics, and pushing the university to reconsider. Her voice echoed loudly within the UNC wrestling community, and now, it’s traveling further. Word is she’s been contacting other collegiate programs, urging them to think twice before signing Ferrari. Her mission seems clear: keep him off the mat.

Ferrari, a 2021 national champion and one of wrestling’s most talked-about athletes, arrived at UNC with plenty of buzz. The spotlight grew even brighter when he posted his UNC commitment on Instagram, a news posted by both UNC’s official wrestling account and FloWrestling. But that welcome didn’t last. And Soltys wasn’t going to let it slide.

Meanwhile, UNC’s silence on the matter is mandated by NCAA recruiting rules. But their sudden U-turn speaks volumes. As for Ferrari, he’s back in the transfer portal. A national champ without a corner. And if Soltys has her way, that might not change anytime soon. Now, despite being ravaged by so many things outside of the mat, AJ Ferrari still managed to clinch All-American earlier this year.

AJ Ferrari breaks decade-long drought for CSUB with All-American honor

AJ Ferrari strutted into Wells Fargo Center with history on his shoulders. And he left Day 2 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships as Cal State Bakersfield’s first All-American in over a decade. The 3-seed in the 197-pound bracket, Ferrari secured his spot among the elite with a clinical 2-0 morning victory over #6 Mac Stout of Pitt, becoming the first Roadrunner to earn All-American honors since Bryce Hammond in 2014.

The win not only guaranteed Ferrari a top-six finish but also marked the 46th All-American honor in CSUB Wrestling history. For a program looking to regain national relevance, Ferrari’s grit-fueled run was a jolt of pride. But the evening semifinal served a dose of reality, as Ferrari collided with Iowa’s #2 Stephan Buchanan in what proved to be a tense, tactical showdown. After a scoreless first two periods, Buchanan edged ahead with a “locking hands” penalty and an escape, sealing a 3-0 decision with riding time tacked on.

The loss snapped Ferrari’s 39-match win streak and was just the second defeat of his college career. But true to form, the Roadrunner standout didn’t sulk. He took to social media instead, making it clear the mission wasn’t over. He still had third place to fight for. With one more day on the mat, Ferrari now sets his sights on #15 Joseph Novak of Wyoming, keeping Bakersfield’s hopes of a podium finish very much alive.