Andrew Michael Alirez (born August 19, 2000) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 65 kilograms.[1] In freestyle, he is a two-time US National champion, and in folkstyle, he is an NCAA National champion at 141 pounds out of the University of Northern Colorado.[2]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Andrew Michael Alirez | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 19, 2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home town | Greeley, Colorado, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 141 lb (64 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Northern Colorado Wrestling Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Troy Nickerson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Career edit
High school edit
Alirez attended Greeley Central High School, where he was a four-time state champion, multiple-time US freestyle All-American and a U20 Pan American champion.[3]
The top-recruit in the country, Alirez committed to the University of Northern Colorado.[4]
University of Northern Colorado edit
2019–2020 edit
At the beginning of the year, Alirez recorded a fourth-place finish at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in freestyle, with a notable win over two-time NCAA champion Dean Heil .[5] Back to folkstyle, Alirez, a true freshman, took first at the Northern Colorado and the Cowboy Open tournaments, as well as second at the Southern Scuffle, during regular season.[6]
After a fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, it was announced that the NCAA National Championships had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting his season short to end it with a 23–4 record.[7][8]
2020–2021 edit
Before the season, Alirez claimed the US National Championship at 65 kilograms in freestyle, recording wins over US Open runner-up Joseph McKenna and veteran Evan Henderson.[9] Back to folkstyle, Alirez went 4–0 during the season before surrendering to an injury, but still qualified for the NCAA tournament.[10]
2021–2022 edit
After dropping down from 149 to 141 pounds, Alirez placed second and third respectively at the CKLV Invitational and the Southern Scuffle during regular season.[11][12] Alirez then claimed his first Big 12 Championship title with wins over highly ranked wrestlers, but fell short of All-American honors at the NCAA National Championships, ending his season with a 24–5 record.[13]
2022–2023 edit
During regular season, Alirez compiled an undefeated record and racked up titles from the Cougar Clash Invite and the Southern Scuffle.[14] He then earned his second-straight Big 12 Championship before the National tournament.[15]
At the NCAA tournament, Alirez became the first NCAA Division I National champion in UNC's history, with hard-fought wins over Lachlan McNeil from North Carolina, Beau Bartlett from Penn State and Real Woods from University of Iowa, to close out an undefeated season with 28 wins and no losses.[16] After the season, he was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Year, and was a Dan Hodge Trophy finalist.[17]
In July, Alirez went back to freestyle to compete at the Poland Open, where he notably took out three-time World Champion Haji Aliyev in the first round to advance and defeat All-American Josh Finesilver, and lastly, took a forfeit over Mikyay Naim to claim the title.[18]
In September, Alirez announced he would be using an Olympic redshirt for the 2023–2024 season.[19] On December, Alirez became a two-time US National champion in freestyle with wins over All-Americans Beau Bartlett and Austin DeSanto, and US Open champion Alec Pantaleo, qualifying for the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials.[20]
2024 edit
In April, Alirez competed at the US Olympic Team Trials, where after defeating NCAA finalist Beau Bartlett, he fell to US National champion and top-seeded Nick Lee in a tight loss, and subsequently forfeited out of the tournament.[21]
Freestyle record edit
NCAA stats edit
References edit
- ^ "Despite team's bus being showered with bullets, Greeley Central's Andrew Alirez unflappable, winning Pan Am wrestling title in Brazil". Greeley Tribune. 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "Greeley Native Andrew Alirez Completes Perfect Season with NCAA 141-Pound Championship". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
- ^ "UNC's Andrew Alirez captures wrestling national championship". KUSA.com. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Greeley Central's Andrew Alirez stays true to his word and signs with University of Northern Colorado". Greeley Tribune. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Greeley Central's Alirez wrestles to fourth place at Dave Schultz Memorial International". Greeley Tribune. 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Alirez, Robertson Advance to Semifinals at Southern Scuffle". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ Falk, Steven. "NCAA Wrestling Championships: Tournament canceled due to coronavirus concerns". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Three Wrestlers Grab Scholar All-American Awards". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Alirez, Schwartz Put the Bears on the Map at Senior Nationals". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ Tribune, Jadyn Watson-Fisher | Greeley (2021-03-11). "Andrew Alirez withdraws from 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championship". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Alirez Takes Second at CKLV". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Three Northern Colorado wrestlers place at annual Southern Scuffle". The Fort Morgan Times. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ Tribune, Jadyn Watson-Fisher | Greeley (2022-03-19). "Andrew Alirez falls just short of podium, ends season at NCAA Tournament". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Alirez Wins 141-Pound Championship at Southern Scuffle". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Poulin and Alirez are Big 12 Champs!". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-03-05. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "How Andrew Alirez inspired a new era for Northern Colorado wrestling | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Greeley Native Andrew Alirez Completes Perfect Season with NCAA 141-Pound Championship". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Alirez Wins Gold at Poland Open". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Andrew Alirez to skip UNC wrestling season to train for Paris Olympics". Greeley Tribune. 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "Greeley's Andrew Alirez qualifies for U.S. Olympic Team wrestling trials". Greeley Tribune. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ "Andrew Alirez's bid for Olympic wrestling team ends in semifinal match at US trials". Greeley Tribune. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-21.