It was huge news when Angelo Ferrari announced on May 31, 2023 that he had committed to the Hawks. Ferrari chose Iowa over Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
Ferrari was the 2024 #1 P4P (pound for pound) ranked wrestler in the country by both FloWrestling and MatScouts. Ferrari was also the overall top recruit for Flo for the Class of 2024 when he was a junior last year.
Steve Mocco in 2001 is the only Hawk that I know of that was the #1 ranked overall recruit coming out of high school over the last twenty-five years if ever in the history of Iowa Wrestling. Spencer Lee was the #2 P4P overall recruit in 2017.
Originally from Melissa, Texas, Ferrari won a state title at 175 lbs. last season.
Ferrari looked dominant in defeating 2023 U17 World champion and Penn State recruit Joe Sealy 10-2 at Who’s #1 last year. Ferrari also defeated Sealy 6-0, OT at the Ironman last December.
Ferrari is the first wrestler from Texas to win three Ironman titles. The Ironman is considered the toughest regular season high school tournament in the country every year and by quite a margin.
Ferrari was named as the Texas state winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA). This award recognizes a wrestler for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.
I do not believe that Ferrari has received the attention that he deserves as an elite recruit. I believe fans assumed Ferrari would redshirt and go after 184 next year.
On the current roster Ferrari is listed at 184. Weight certification for college wrestling is usually in the first part of October. Ferrari won a state title at 175 last season.
I doubt anyone knows if Ferrari intends on redshirting or not this season or possibly even what weight he will go between 174/184.
With the new rules a true freshman can wrestle in five varsity events and not use up a year of eligibility.
As an Iowa Wrestling fan I would like to see Ferrari come out to a sold out crowd in Carver for a big dual meet and get a taste of the crowd and show us what he can do.
Is Angelo Ferrari ready to go in the big time this year? A lot can happen between now and Big Tens over five months away.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Wrestle the best… even if that means Brands doesn’t wrestle in 2024-2025. We have some great talent in the upper weights and I pray Tom Brands doesn’t blow it.