AJ Ferrari has responded on behalf of himself and his brother after former collegiate wrestler Cayden Henschel took a jibe at them for medically forfeiting after losing in the semifinals of the NCAA Championships.
Angelo Ferrari was competing at 184 lbs for Iowa. After losing in the semifinals to Minnesota’s Max McEnelly, he medically forfeited from the 2026 NCAA Men’s Wrestling National Championships. AJ, competing in heavyweight (285 lbs) for Nebraska, also made a strong run to reach the semifinals before losing to Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida. With the medical forfeit, the Ferrari brothers won’t be able to play consolation draws.
In the wake of the medical forfeits, Henschel appeared to mock the brothers on Instagram:
“What if you’re in the national tournament right and let’s say you lose you just don’t medically forfeit out of the tournament. I don’t know, the thought just came to me.”
After Henschel’s comment, AJ defended himself and his brother. He tagged Henschel in the comments, saying that wrestling is far more dynamic than it appears and suggesting the reason for the forfeit was genuine.
“@caydenhenschel and to anyone else hating on my brother and me in our interview – this sport is far more brutal than it looks,” AJ wrote. “It may seem soft from the outside, but those of us who live it at the D1 and World and Olympic level know the reality.
“Not everyone has the same path, the same eligibility, or the same level of ability – and that’s okay. What’s not okay is tearing down a 19-year-old who’s being forced to stop wrestling and medically forfeit by his coaches and circle. Speaking and making a mockery of this shows you aren’t a true supporter of this sport. Some of us have pushed through multiple injuries and surgeries – 3, 4, even 5 on the same knee. At some point, it’s not about toughness anymore; it’s about long-term health. No one wants to be facing a full knee replacement in their early 20s just to prove something to critics.”
AJ also called out Henschel’s Christian faith.
“And if you claim to follow Yahusha (Christ), but still choose to put others down in moments like this, it’s worth reflecting on that,” AJ added. “Real ones understand: this sport demands everything, and sometimes stepping back is the hardest, bravest choice you can make.”
Where did Angelo and AJ Ferrari Finish After Medical Forfeits?
Angelo Ferrari finished sixth and secured All-American status. Had he competed in placement matches instead of medically forfeiting, he could have finished higher.
Angelo reportedly had a pre-existing injury from January 2026 and even missed significant time before returning for the Big Ten Championships, where he also medically forfeited. It appears Angelo’s injury worsened, forcing his withdrawal after the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Nebraska’s AJ Ferrari will finish inside the top eight. Nebraska had multiple All-Americans, and AJ was among them. He was banged up during the tournament and had existing knee issues, also seen during the Big Ten finals match stoppage.
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