University of Northern Colorado Athletics
2021-22 Wrestling Roster
Roster
Andrew Alirez
- Weight:
- 149
- Height:
- 5-6
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Greeley, Colo.
- Prev School:
- Greeley Central HS (OLYMPIC REDSHIRT)
- Major:
- Sport and Exercise Science
HONORS / AWARDS:
2025 Luna’s Taco Student Athlete of the Week
2023 NCAA champion
2023 Big 12 champion
2023 Big 12 Wrestler of the Year
2023 Dan Hodge Trophy Finalist
2022 NCAA Qualifier
2022 Big 12 Champion
2021 Second Team Academic All-Big 12
2021 NCAA Qualifier
2020 NCAA Qualifier
2020 NWCA All-American Honorable Mention
2020 Northern Colorado Most Outstanding Wrestler Award
2023-24 / OLYMPIC REDSHIRT:
Season: After Alirez’s historic season winning the National Title, he decided to pursue his Olympic dream. The opportunity to take an Olympic Redshirt is only awarded to elite wrestlers in the year before the Olympics.
2023 Senior Nationals (12/17): Went a perfect 5-0 to win the Senior Nationals title at 65kg. Champ. Round 1 – Alirez received a bye. Champ. Round 2 – Alirez won by tech fall over Henry Porter (Indiana RTC), 10-0. Quarterfinal – Alirez won by tech fall over Austin DeSanto (HWC/TMWC), 10-0. Semifinal – Alirez won by decision over Alec Pantaleo (CKWC/TMWC), 4-3. First Place Match – Alirez won by decision over Beau Bartlett (NLWC/TMWC), 8-0. 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials (04/20): Champ. Round 1 – Alirez received a bye. Champ. Round 2 – Alirez won by decision over Beau Bartlett (NLWC/TMWC), 6-2. Ziolkowski Memorial Tournament (07/30): Alirez put the world on notice when he took out three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic Medalist, Haji Aliyev. Alirez dominated from start to finish winning 8-0.
2022-23 / SENIOR:
Season: Had a historic season going 28-0, seven falls, five tech falls, and seven major decisions… Became the first National Champion for Northern Colorado in the modern wrestler era (141 pounds) … Won the Big XII Championship for the second time in his career… Big XII Wrestler of the year… First wrestler at UNC to win the Southern Scuffle at 141 pounds… Three time Big XII Wrestler of the Week.
2021-22 / JUNIOR:
Season: Finished second at the Cliff Keen Invitational, the highest in program history at the tournament… Finished third at the Southern Scuffle, making him a two-time placer… Led the team with an overall record of 25-5, two falls, one tech fall, and seven major decisions… Became the first Big XII Champion in program history, winning by decision 6-4… Qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third time in his career.
2020-21 / SOPHOMORE:
Season: Started the season off with a pin over No. 31 Jaron Jensen of Wyoming… Earned an at-large invite to the NCAA tournament… Second team Academic All-Big 12.
Wyoming (01/03): Pinned No. 31 Jaron Jensen to open the season, 4:40. California Baptist (01/08): Won by decision over AJ Raya, 6-4. Utah Valley (01/08): Majored Cameron Hunsaker in Alirez’s final dual of the season, 16-4. Air Force Round Robin (02/20): Took first place by pinning James Emmer of Utah Valley in 2:16.
2019-20 / FRESHMAN:
Season: Competed in twelve events as a true freshman, including the Big XII Championships and the NCAA Championships. Made his collegiate tournament debut at the 2019 Cowboy Open with a 14-5 major decision win over Wyoming’s Jaron Jensen to win the tournament at 141… Ended the season with a 24-4 record, placed fourth at Big XII Championships, and became an NCAA Qualifer as a true freshman at 141. … Had seven falls, three tech falls, four major decisions, and 41 takedowns… Earned All-American Honorable Mention honors from the NWCA and won the Northern Colorado Most Outstanding Wrestler award.
HIGH SCHOOL / PERSONAL:
Alirez comes to Northern Colorado as a Greeley native, and Greeley Central High School… Ranked No. 1 overall for the 2019 recruiting class… He is a one-time Junior Pan American Games Champion, a four time State Champion, Super 32 finalist, three time Cadet/Junior Freestyle All-American, third place finisher at the 2019 UWW Junior WTT, second place finisher at the 2019 Junior US Open, second place at the 2018 UWW Junior WTT, and third place at the 2018 Junior US Open… Alirez is also the recipient of the 2019 Junior Hodge Trophy.
Son of Andrew Alirez Sr and Nina Trevino… Brother of Zander Alirez, Mikai Alirez, Vlad Alirez, Gianna Alirez, Aliyah Paris, and Sonesha Alirez… Both of Alirez’s parents are UNC Alum.
