Serrano and Zerban Win Big 12 Titles

Sunday, March 9

Tulsa, Okla.

University of Northern Colorado

Big 12

3/9/2025 10:57:00 PM | Wrestling

Northern Colorado Records Best Finish Ever

By: Michael High, Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications

TULSA, Okla. – Dominick Serrano and Vincent Zerban won the first the Big 12 Championships at their respective weight classes Saturday at BOK Arena.

"I'm proud of the entire team," head coach Troy Nickerson said. "I'm really happy for Dom and Vinny. They executed the game plan perfectly and deserve to be Big 12 Champions."

Serrano cruised to an 11-4 victory in the 133-pound championship bout, winning his first Big 12 Championship. Zerban rode a fast start to his first Big 12 title.

Northern Colorado recorded its best finish in program history, totaling 79.5 points and placing fifth.

Oklahoma State won the team title with 153.5 points. Northern Iowa placed second with 149.5 points.

Andrew Alirez placed third, while Stevo Poulin registered a fifth-place finish. Clayton Ulrey and Aydin Rix-McElhinney earned placements in eighth.

FINAL TEAM RESULTS

	Team	Points
1	Oklahoma State, OK	153.5
2	Northern Iowa, IA	149.5
3	South Dakota State, SD	110.0
4	Iowa State, IA	107.5
5	Northern Colorado, CO	79.5
6	West Virginia, WV	77.5
7	Oklahoma, OK	72.5
8	Missouri, MO	65.5
9	North Dakota State, ND	58.5
10	Wyoming, WY	58.0
11	Arizona State, AZ	43.0
12	Utah Valley, UT	21.5
13	California Baptist, CA	15.0
14	Air Force, CO	11.5

125 | Stevo Poulin (20-2) FIFTH PLACE
Round 1 - Stevo Poulin (UNC) won by a fall over Bridger Ricks (Utah Valley) 11-11 (Fall 2:49)
Quarterfinal - Stevo Poulin (UNC) won by decision over Trever Anderson (Northern Iowa) 12-9 (Dec 5-1)
Semifinal - Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia) 10-2 won by fall over Stevo Poulin (UNC) 20-2 (Fall 2:15)
Cons. Semis - Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) over Stevo Poulin (UNC) (Fall 3:47)
5th Place Match - Stevo Poulin (UNC) over Tristan Daugherty (North Dakota State) (MD 9-1)

133 | Dominick Serrano (22-2) FIRST PLACE
Round 1 - Dominick Serrano (UNC) 22-2 won by decision over Julian Chlebove (Arizona State) 5-11 (Dec 7-3)
Quarterfinal - Dominick Serrano (UNC) 22-2 won by decision over Derrick Cardinal (South Dakota State) 17-13 (Dec 8-5)
Semifinal - Dominick Serrano (UNC) 22-2 won by decision over Hunter Leake (California Baptist) 6-7 (Dec 10-3)
Championship Match - Dominick Serrano (UNC) over Kyle Burwick (North Dakota State) (Dec 11-4)

141 | Andrew Alirez (14-1) THIRD PLACE
Round 1 - Andrew Alirez (UNC) 14-1 won by tech fall over Cole Brooks (Wyoming) 16-16 (TF-1.5 7:00 (15-0))
Quarterfinal - Andrew Alirez (UNC) 14-1 won by decision over Julian Tagg (South Dakota State) 15-10 (Dec 4-3)
Semifinal - Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State) 20-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Andrew Alirez (UNC) 14-1 (SV-1 13-6)
Cons. Semis - Andrew Alirez (UNC) over Jordan Titus (West Virginia) (Fall 4:03)
3rd Place Match - Andrew Alirez (UNC) over Jacob Frost (Iowa State) (Dec 8-2)

149 | Benji Alanis (10-14)
Round 1 - Benji Alanis (UNC) 10-14 won by decision over Alec Viduya (Air Force) 8-16 (Dec 8-2)
Quarterfinal - Colin Realbuto (Northern Iowa) 21-4 won by a fall over Benji Alanis (NC) 10-14 (Fall 5:27)
Cons. Round 2 - Avery Allen (South Dakota State) 16-11 won by major decision over Benji Alanis (UNC) 10-14 (MD 8-0)

157 | Vincent Zerban
Round 1 - Vinny Zerban (UNC) 17-4 won by decision over John Wiley (Oklahoma) 2-4 (Dec 8-1)
Quarterfinal - Vincent Zerban (UNC) 17-4 won by decision over Ryder Downey (Northern Iowa) 23-4 (Dec 8-7)
Semifinal - Vincent Zerban (UNC) 17-4 won by decision over Caleb Fish (Oklahoma State) 17-8 (Dec 5-4)
Championship Match – Vincent Zerban (UNC) over Cobe Siebrecht (South Dakota State) (Dec 7-4)

165 | Clayton Ulrey (13-10) EIGHTH PLACE
Round 1 - Clayton Ulrey (UNC) 13-10 won by injury default over Drake Rhodes (South Dakota State) 19-5 (Inj. 6:14)
Quarterfinal - Cam Steed (Missouri) 14-4 won by major decision over Clayton Ulrey (UNC) 13-10 (MD 12-2)
Cons. Round 2 - Clayton Ulrey (UNC) 13-10 won by decision over Logan Fowler (Air Force) 8-8 (Dec 7-3)
Cons. Round 3 - Aiden Riggins (Iowa State) 10-16 won by major decision over Clayton Ulrey (UNC) 13-10 (MD 11-3)
7th Place Match - Jack Thomsen (Northern Iowa) over Clayton Ulrey (UNC) (Dec 4-0)

174 | Aydin Rix-McElhinney (4-12) EIGHTH
Round 1 - Jared Simma (Northern Iowa) 22-11 won by tech fall over Aydin Rix-McElhinney (UNC) 4-12 (TF-1.5 7:00 (18-3))
Cons. Round 1 - Aydin Rix-McElhinney (UNC) 4-12 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Aydin Rix-McElhinney (UNC) 4-12 won by injury default over Brody Conley (West Virginia) 13-8 (Inj. 0:02)
Cons. Round 3 - MJ Gaitan (Iowa State) 10-9 won by decision over Aydin Rix-McElhinney (UNC) 4-12 (Dec 15-9)
7th Place Match - Devin Wasley (North Dakota State) over Aydin Rix-McElhinney (UNC) (Dec 6-3)

184 | AJ Heeg (14-15)
Round 1 - Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) 23-0 won by tech fall over AJ Heeg (Northern Color) 14-15 (TF-1.5 6:21 (20-4))
Cons. Round 1 - Colton Hawks (Missouri) 10-6 won by decision over AJ Heeg (Northern Colorado) 14-15 (Dec 2-0)

197 | Andrew Donahue (9-13)
Round 1 - Brian Burburija (Air Force) 22-10 won by decision over Andrew Donahue (UNC) 9-13 (Dec 5-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Eli Sheeren (California Baptist) 14-16 won by major decision over Andrew Donahue (UNC) 9-13 (MD 11-2)

285 | Jose Valdez (1-8)
Champ. Round 1 - Lance Runyon (Northern Iowa) 17-7 won by decision over Jose Valdez (UNC) 1-8 (Dec 6-4)
Cons. Round 1 - Andrew Blackburn-Forst (North Dakota State) 13-18 won by a fall over Jose Valdez (UNC) 1-8 (Fall 1:18)