University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, March 16
Tulsa, Okla.
University of Northern Colorado
vs
NCAA Championships
Greeley Native Andrew Alirez Completes Perfect Season with NCAA 141-Pound Championship
3/18/2023 10:11:00 PM | Wrestling
TULSA, Okla. – Legacy secured, and mission accomplished.
Prior to the start of the season junior and Greeley, Colorado native Andrew Alirez had one goal: win the NCAA national championship and put his hometown on the map.
Alirez, who finishes the season with a perfect 28-0 record, fulfilled the pre-determined destiny with a thrilling 6-4 win over No. 1 seed and then-unbeaten (20-1) Real Woods of Iowa.
"I've given my entire life to this game, and to be able to reap the benefits, it means everything," Alirez said. "That's years and years of sacrifice, especially over this past year. Now that I'm here, I can do nothing but be grateful."
Alirez's win was also a first under UNC head wrestling coach Troy Nickerson, who is thrilled to see Alirez reach the pinnacle of intercollegiate wrestling.
"It's been a long time in the making. This building process, it's been a lot of work, but we've got the right people in place to do it," Nickerson said. "I'm proud of him. He accomplished his goal, and no one was ever going to take that away from him."
Alirez's championship marks the program's first as a NCAA Division I program and the program's 10th overall (NCAA Division II & prior to divisional era).
Prior to the start of the season junior and Greeley, Colorado native Andrew Alirez had one goal: win the NCAA national championship and put his hometown on the map.
Alirez, who finishes the season with a perfect 28-0 record, fulfilled the pre-determined destiny with a thrilling 6-4 win over No. 1 seed and then-unbeaten (20-1) Real Woods of Iowa.
"I've given my entire life to this game, and to be able to reap the benefits, it means everything," Alirez said. "That's years and years of sacrifice, especially over this past year. Now that I'm here, I can do nothing but be grateful."
Alirez's win was also a first under UNC head wrestling coach Troy Nickerson, who is thrilled to see Alirez reach the pinnacle of intercollegiate wrestling.
"It's been a long time in the making. This building process, it's been a lot of work, but we've got the right people in place to do it," Nickerson said. "I'm proud of him. He accomplished his goal, and no one was ever going to take that away from him."
Alirez's championship marks the program's first as a NCAA Division I program and the program's 10th overall (NCAA Division II & prior to divisional era).
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