University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Alirez Dominant at Sr. Nationals – Qualifies for Olympic Trials
12/22/2023 12:20:00 PM | Wrestling
GREELEY, Colo. – Andrew Alirez posted a 4-0 mark at USA Wrestling Senior Nationals last week, winning the 65kg (143 lbs.) freestyle title and qualifying for the 2024 United States Olympic Trials.
"Andrew continues to show that he is a serious contender for the 2024 Olympic Team," head coach Troy Nickerson said. "Even though he was dominant, I feel like we came out of the event with plenty to work on. We will continue to get better over the next four months in preparation for the Olympic Trials."
It marked his second title on the senior level, backing up his 2020 USA Wrestling Senior Nationals Championship, while adding a NCAA Championship in 2023 to his collection of hardware.
The Greeley, Colo., native defeated his four opponents by a combined score of 32-3, without allowing an offensive point and earning the Outstanding Wrestler in Men's Freestyle. He opened the event with a pair of tech falls, before advancing to the finals with a 1-point victory in the semifinals.
He dispatched Henry Porter from the University of Indiana in 1:35, securing the first two points with a takedown 20 seconds into the bout. After claiming two ankle lace points by Alirez, the pair jockeyed for control over the next minute. He earned his second takedown and stacked a pair of ankle laces for four points in four seconds to secure the tech fall.
Alirez clashed with former Iowa four-time All-American Austin DeSanto, in the quarterfinals. Alirez secured a single-leg takedown with just over two minutes left in the first period and immediately added on with three ankle laces for an 8-0 advantage. He continued to stalk his opponent for the rest of the round before securing his second single-leg takedown and claimed the 10-0 tech fall.
In the semifinals, Alirez and Alec Pantaleo – a four-time NCAA Qualifier and three-time All-American during his time at Michigan – faced off. With 1:33 remaining in the second and final round, Alirez found himself in a 3-0 deficit after surrendering a pair of passivity points and a step-out tally. After locking on to the ankle, Alirez swept Pantaleo's free leg when he tried to escape, securing the takedown with 1:21 left and slashing the deficit to one. Needing another 2-point takedown, Alirez went to work with just over a minute left, first grabbing the left leg with his shot. He continued to work and with 55 ticks left he moved into a double-leg takedown, moving ahead 4-3. Alirez held off Pantaleo's furious push and stayed aggressive to move on to the final.
Alirez matched up with Beau Bartlett from Penn State, setting up a rematch from the 2023 NCAA semifinals, which Alirez won 6-2 en route to his national championship. Alirez scored a takedown and two ankle laces to lead 6-0 at the break between periods. He extended his advantage with a go-behind takedown for the final margin.
"Andrew continues to show that he is a serious contender for the 2024 Olympic Team," head coach Troy Nickerson said. "Even though he was dominant, I feel like we came out of the event with plenty to work on. We will continue to get better over the next four months in preparation for the Olympic Trials."
It marked his second title on the senior level, backing up his 2020 USA Wrestling Senior Nationals Championship, while adding a NCAA Championship in 2023 to his collection of hardware.
The Greeley, Colo., native defeated his four opponents by a combined score of 32-3, without allowing an offensive point and earning the Outstanding Wrestler in Men's Freestyle. He opened the event with a pair of tech falls, before advancing to the finals with a 1-point victory in the semifinals.
He dispatched Henry Porter from the University of Indiana in 1:35, securing the first two points with a takedown 20 seconds into the bout. After claiming two ankle lace points by Alirez, the pair jockeyed for control over the next minute. He earned his second takedown and stacked a pair of ankle laces for four points in four seconds to secure the tech fall.
Alirez clashed with former Iowa four-time All-American Austin DeSanto, in the quarterfinals. Alirez secured a single-leg takedown with just over two minutes left in the first period and immediately added on with three ankle laces for an 8-0 advantage. He continued to stalk his opponent for the rest of the round before securing his second single-leg takedown and claimed the 10-0 tech fall.
In the semifinals, Alirez and Alec Pantaleo – a four-time NCAA Qualifier and three-time All-American during his time at Michigan – faced off. With 1:33 remaining in the second and final round, Alirez found himself in a 3-0 deficit after surrendering a pair of passivity points and a step-out tally. After locking on to the ankle, Alirez swept Pantaleo's free leg when he tried to escape, securing the takedown with 1:21 left and slashing the deficit to one. Needing another 2-point takedown, Alirez went to work with just over a minute left, first grabbing the left leg with his shot. He continued to work and with 55 ticks left he moved into a double-leg takedown, moving ahead 4-3. Alirez held off Pantaleo's furious push and stayed aggressive to move on to the final.
Alirez matched up with Beau Bartlett from Penn State, setting up a rematch from the 2023 NCAA semifinals, which Alirez won 6-2 en route to his national championship. Alirez scored a takedown and two ankle laces to lead 6-0 at the break between periods. He extended his advantage with a go-behind takedown for the final margin.
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