Smith Seemed Uncomfortable Talking About Ferrari Being Out for Season

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State wrestling head coach John Smith met with the media for the first time since his Monday radio show where he dropped the semi bombshell that reigning All-American and NCAA 197-pound individual champion A.J. Ferrari was now out for the season due to injuries and the necessary rehab from a traumatic but much more fortunate than could have been head-on collision on Jan. 24.

Ferrari was driving his good friend and fellow Oklahoma State athlete Isai Rodriguez Dodge SUV back from Cushing, Okla. and a youth wrestling event. The vehicle Ferrari was driving and the All-American distance runner for OSU track and cross-country Rodriguez was riding in the front seat tried to pass several cars and struck a car head on. Nobody was seriously injured including the driver of the other vehicle. Rodriguez actually competed in an indoor track meet last weekend in Seattle.

Ferrari was flown by medical helicopter to Oklahoma City and it has been said is dealing with a concussion and possible shoulder injuries. He was 10-0 and ranked No. 1 at his weight prior to the incident. Since Oklahoma State has lost four of five duals and Gavin Stika has filled in for Ferrari at 197-pounds and he has gone 1-4. Stika is 12-7 overall this season and unranked.

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Ferrari is finished for the season and will work toward the 2022-23 season.

Smith seemed to be hesitant with the media and when asked about the proclamation that Ferrari was going to have surgery, he was uncertain.

“No, no there is no time on the surgery,” Smith said. “There could be, but right now there is not a plan at this point.”

Then Smith was asked about his conversations with Ferrari and what the outlook has been for his wrestling and social media and internet sensation. Make no mistake, Ferrari is a celebrity that goes beyond the collegiate wrestling world.

“Let’s work on getting healthy and doing the things you need to do after what happened, not just as an athlete but as a human being. There are some protocols that need to be followed,” Smith answered when asked about his communication with Ferrari. “It was more than just getting beat up in the body. There were somethings that we were concerned with. I think the first two or three weeks it was just doing the things to make sure that your body bounces back. Not just to wrestle, but to make sure that you cand do some things.”

It just seemed like a strange conversation with Smith, who is normally much more sure of his words when talking to the media.

No. 11-ranked Oklahoma State (11-4) will wrestle unranked Bucknell on Friday (Feb. 18) at 7 p.m. and then host unranked Oklahoma for Bedlam on Sunday (Feb. 20) at 2 p.m.