University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Photo by: Ashley Buchholz
Alirez selected for prestigious NWCA All-Star Classic
11/17/2022 11:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Alirez to take on top-ranked wrestler
GREELEY, Colo.—Northern Colorado's returning Big XII champion Andrew Alirez has been invited to participate in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen on Tuesday, November 22 in Austin, Texas.
Competing at 141 pounds, Alirez will take on the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country in the University of Pittsburgh's Cole Matthews. Matthews, a returning All-American and younger brother of former UNC grappler Austin Matthew, placed fifth at the NCAA Championships a year ago.
The Classic is the premier in-season event with a total of 22 male wrestlers receiving invitations to compete.
Alirez, UNC's first-ever Big 12 Champion and the No. 4-ranked wrestler at 141, received the coveted invitation when the No. 2-ranked wrestler, Iowa's Real Woods, withdrew from the prestigious event.
The two last met in the round of 16 at the 2019 USA Wrestling U23 Championships where Alirez, wrestling for the Northern Colorado Wrestling Club, dominated Matthews 11-0. Alirez is 2-0 with a fall and tech fall on this year while Matthews is 1-0 on the young season.
The 2022 edition of the NWCA Classic is the first in four years and will feature eight returning national champions among its 13 confirmed matches. The event will be live-streamed at 6pm MST on FloWrestling, the official broadcast partner of UNC wrestling,
To stay up to date on all things UNC Wrestling, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.
Competing at 141 pounds, Alirez will take on the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the country in the University of Pittsburgh's Cole Matthews. Matthews, a returning All-American and younger brother of former UNC grappler Austin Matthew, placed fifth at the NCAA Championships a year ago.
The Classic is the premier in-season event with a total of 22 male wrestlers receiving invitations to compete.
Alirez, UNC's first-ever Big 12 Champion and the No. 4-ranked wrestler at 141, received the coveted invitation when the No. 2-ranked wrestler, Iowa's Real Woods, withdrew from the prestigious event.
The two last met in the round of 16 at the 2019 USA Wrestling U23 Championships where Alirez, wrestling for the Northern Colorado Wrestling Club, dominated Matthews 11-0. Alirez is 2-0 with a fall and tech fall on this year while Matthews is 1-0 on the young season.
The 2022 edition of the NWCA Classic is the first in four years and will feature eight returning national champions among its 13 confirmed matches. The event will be live-streamed at 6pm MST on FloWrestling, the official broadcast partner of UNC wrestling,
To stay up to date on all things UNC Wrestling, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.
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