Tag: Angelo Ferrari

Iowa just landed a massive recruit in the 2024 class. The top-ranked wrestler in 2024, Angelo Ferrari, announced his commitment to the Iowa Hawkeyes on FloWrestling.

He chose Iowa over Rutgers and Virginia Tech. A native of Melissa, Texas, Ferrari projects in the 184-pound weight class per FloWrestling’s JD Rader.

With an Iowa, Rutgers and Virginia Tech hat on the table, Ferrari pulled a Penn State hat out from underneath the table during his commitment announcement. For Iowa fans watching, that might have caused hearts to skip a beat just temporarily.

He promptly chucked the Nittany Lion hat aside as he made his announcement that would join Tom Brands and the Hawkeyes’ program.

Angelo Ferrari Commits To Iowa! pic.twitter.com/hLOjL8t29C

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) June 1, 2023

“A lot of people know where I’m going. A lot of people think they know where I’m going, but I’d like to announce my commitment to the University of Iowa,” Ferrari said as he tossed the Tigerhawk hat on.

Ferrari is a two-time Ironman champion and Who’s Number One champion. In 2022 at Who’s Number One, Ferrari defeated Illinois commit Braeden Scores and Penn State’s commit and U17 world champion Joe Sealey.

When speaking with FloWrestling’s David Bray in mid-May, Ferrari noted several things that impressed him about Iowa.

“It’s like going to see Alabama football. (They have) such a dynasty over there,” Ferrari said of the Hawkeyes.

Then, when Ferrari came on his visit to the Hawkeyes, he was taken by the wrestling knowledge and appreciation by those in Iowa City.

“Walking around campus, everybody knows you. It’s amazing. Wrestling is part of the culture in Iowa,” Ferrari said.

Of course, Ferrari joins his older brother, Anthony Ferrari, now at Iowa. Anthony Ferrari committed to the Hawkeyes in March. He was rated the No. 23 overall prospect in the 2022 senior class by MatScouts and originally committed to Oklahoma State where he was projected to wrestle at 157 or 165 pounds.

Ferrari never officially enrolled or joined the Cowboy program. The Stillwater News Press reported in August of 2022 that two misdemeanor assault and battery charges had been filed against Anthony Ferrari. Anthony Ferrari was given a one-year deferred sentence on Tuesday, April 11.

Angelo Ferrari joins fellow top-100 Hawkeye commit in the 2024 class, Miguel Estrada.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=17]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

The top recruit in the 2024 wrestling class has the Iowa Hawkeyes squarely on his radar.

Angelo Ferrari announced that Iowa joins Virginia Tech and Rutgers as his three finalists. His commitment will take place live on FloWrestling.com and on FloWrestling’s social channels on May 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Ferrari visited Blacksburg, Virginia, in April, but it was Iowa that got his final official visit. He spoke with FloWrestling’s David Bray to discuss his recruitment and what he likes about the Hawkeyes.

“It’s like going to see Alabama football. (They have) such a dynasty over there,” Ferrari said of Iowa.

It also made an impression on Ferrari that he was a recognizable figure in Iowa City on his official visit.

“Walking around campus, everybody knows you. It’s amazing. Wrestling is part of the culture in Iowa,” Ferrari said.

Angelo Ferrari, the top recruit in the class of 2024, is down to his final 3 schools. Watch his college commitment LIVE on https://t.co/PXScg8vCbc and FloWrestling’s social channels on May 31st at 7:30 pm est to find out where he’ll compete at the next level. pic.twitter.com/zqCYnX6TsA

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) May 23, 2023

Bray also wrote this about why Angelo Ferrari has Iowa in his top three.

Tom Brands is a key figure in Hawkeye lore, and Ferrari appreciated meeting Iowa’s head coach in person. Angelo has looked up to Brands since seeing his intense approach to wrestling in the intro of ESPN’s “The Season” series with the Iowa Wrestling program. Ferrari was further impressed with the Head Coach in person, but the intensity surrounding the Hawkeye program wasn’t the only differentiator. He was struck by Iowa’s medical staff and emphasis on recovery after training as well.

Iowa was also the only campus Angelo visited with his brother Anthony who committed to the Hawks in March. While Angelo emphasized that his college commitment decision is an individual one, not a family decision, he does like the idea of competing alongside his older brother Anthony, and if NCAA champ AJ Ferrari gets back to college wrestling, Angelo would love having him as a teammate as well. – Bray, FloWrestling.

As Bray notes, one of Angelo’s two older brothers committed to the Hawkeyes in March. Anthony Ferrari was rated as the No. 23 overall prospect in the 2022 senior class by MatScouts and originally committed to Oklahoma State where he was projected to wrestle at 157 or 165 pounds.

Ferrari never officially enrolled or joined the Cowboy program. The Stillwater News Press reported in August that two misdemeanor assault and battery charges had been filed against Anthony Ferrari. Anthony Ferrari was given a one-year deferred sentence on Tuesday, April 11.

The oldest brother in the family, A.J. Ferrari, is also a standout wrestler. He burst onto the collegiate wrestling scene as a true freshman when he won an NCAA title with a 4-2 decision over Nino Bonaccorsi at 197 pounds. A.J. Ferrari was 10-0 the following season before injuries sustained in an automobile accident in January of 2022 sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Then, in July of 2022, A.J. was dismissed from the Oklahoma State wrestling program after prosecutors filed a sexual battery charge. According to online documents, A.J. Ferrari’s pretrial is set for July 18 and his jury trial is set for Sept. 26.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=17]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF