December 21st 2024.
As Andrew Alirez enters his final months of college wrestling, his main focus is on delivering a top-notch performance rather than stressing about the outcome. According to him, if he gives it his all without getting caught up in the score or the opponent, he will achieve what he set out to do this year - win a second NCAA title. He feels that he has not yet shown his true potential on the mat and believes that he has performed better in practice. He attributes this to the pressure of having to win and the constant reminder to himself that he needs to do it.
His main goal is to put on a great show and be proud of his performance every time he steps off the mat. At 24 years old and in his final year at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), Alirez has accomplished all that he set out to do when he joined the Bears as the number one recruit in the nation in fall 2019. He was crowned the 141-pound NCAA champion with an unbeaten record of 28-0 in 2023. Currently, UNC is ranked nationally and aims to send at least five wrestlers to the NCAA tournament, which would equal their previous record. Head coach Troy Nickerson hopes to have six wrestlers qualify for the tournament this year.
In the December 16th poll by FloWrestling, the Bears were placed 13th. Last year, five wrestlers, including Alirez, qualified for the national tournament, but it was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, three wrestlers, Dominick Serrano, Stevo Poulin, and Vinny Zerban, still made it to the tournament, while Alirez sat out on an Olympic redshirt season. This year, Clayton Ulrey will join the list of NCAA qualifiers, and Nickerson is hopeful that they can find a sixth wrestler to make it to Philadelphia in March. Serrano is currently ranked 14th at 133, Poulin is seventh at 125, Zerban is 17th, and Ulrey is 33rd, according to FloWrestling.
Alirez will most likely lead the team's efforts, given his impressive track record. He currently holds the number one spot in one poll and second place in another for the 141-pound weight class. Alirez has been a well-known name in the wrestling world since his high school days at Greeley Central. In fact, USA Wrestling, the governing body of the sport in the U.S., has their eyes set on Alirez for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Winning an Olympic gold medal has been a dream of Alirez's since he first stepped onto the mat, but that is a long way off in the future. For now, Nickerson believes that Alirez's focus on giving his best performance will lead him to victory.
FloWrestling ranked Alirez first in the 141-pound weight class on Monday, and The Open Mat placed him second on Tuesday. The defending NCAA champion in this weight class, Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, is currently ranked above Alirez in The Open Mat poll. However, in the FloWrestling rankings, Alirez takes the top spot. Beau Bartlett, an All-American from Penn State, is ranked third in both polls. Another wrestler from Windsor High School, Vance VomBaur of Minnesota, is ranked fourth by The Open Mat and sixth by FloWrestling. VomBaur was an All-American last year, finishing eighth at NCAAs. Nebraska's Brock Hardy, who came in third at the national tournament, will also be competing this year.
Alirez is savoring every moment of his final season of college wrestling and enjoying the camaraderie and competitive spirit of his teammates. He knows that once this season is over, the dynamics and environment of wrestling will be different. He wants to make the most of this experience and cherish every opportunity, whether it's a practice or a trip with the team. He is determined to achieve his goal of becoming a two-time national champion. In the spring, Alirez experienced a tough loss in a U.S. Olympic trial match at Penn State. He was defeated by former Penn State wrestler Nick Lee in the 65-kilogram semifinal with a score of 11-9. However, Zain Retherford, another former Penn State wrestler, went on to win the 65kg title, securing his spot in the U.S. Olympic team at the World Qualification Tournament in Turkey. Alirez remains focused on his goal of representing the U.S. in the Olympics in the future.
As he enters the final months of his college wrestling career, Andrew Alirez is determined to focus on his performance rather than stress about the results. He believes that if he wrestles to the best of his ability and doesn't get caught up in the score or the outcome of the match, he will achieve his ultimate goal: winning a second NCAA title. Despite already being a top recruit in the nation when he joined Northern Colorado in 2019, Alirez feels that he has yet to show his true potential on the mat.
"I just feel like nobody has seen the best version of me out there," Alirez shared. "I know I have wrestled better in practice, but I think it's because I put too much pressure on myself to win. This time around, I just want to focus on putting on a good performance and being proud of myself, win or lose."
At 24 years old and in his sixth year at UNC, Alirez has already accomplished everything he set out to do when he first joined the Bears. In 2023, he won the 141-pound NCAA title with an impressive 28-0 record. Now, with UNC ranked nationally and aiming to qualify at least five wrestlers for NCAAs, Alirez is determined to lead his team to success. Head coach Troy Nickerson hopes to send six wrestlers to the national tournament, with Alirez as the main contender for the top spot.
Last year, Alirez was one of five UNC wrestlers who qualified for NCAAs before the tournament was canceled due to the pandemic. This year, he is joined by three other talented wrestlers from last year's team, along with newcomer Clayton Ulrey. With the Bears currently ranked 13th in the nation according to a Dec. 16 poll by FloWrestling, the team is determined to make their mark on the tournament.
As the top ranked wrestler in his weight class this week, Alirez is expected to lead the charge for the Bears. He has been a highly sought-after name in the sport since his days at Greeley Central High School. USA Wrestling has even set their sights on Alirez for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but Alirez is taking things one step at a time and focusing on his current goals.
"I've always dreamed of winning an Olympic gold medal, but that's still far off in the future," Alirez said. "Right now, I'm just focused on doing my best and hopefully winning another NCAA title."
Coach Nickerson has full confidence in Alirez's abilities and believes that if he maintains his focus and gives his all on the mat, there is no one who can beat him. Alirez's ranking of first and second by FloWrestling and The Open Mat respectively, only solidifies this belief.
However, Alirez is not taking anything for granted and is savoring every moment of his final college wrestling season. After a tough loss at the U.S. Olympic trials last spring, Alirez is more determined than ever to make the most out of his remaining time in the collegiate atmosphere.
"I'm trying to really appreciate every opportunity, whether it's a practice or a trip with the team," Alirez said. "This is my last year to accomplish my goal of becoming a two-time national champion, so I want to make the most of it."
As he prepares for the upcoming season, Alirez is fully focused on wrestling and has his sights set on not only winning another NCAA title, but also qualifying for the Olympic trials once again. Despite facing tough competition, Alirez is determined to give it his all and leave everything on the mat.
"I'm completely zoned in on wrestling right now, especially with the Olympic trials coming up," Alirez shared. "Last time didn't go as planned, so I'm even more motivated to make it this time around."
With a strong support system in his coach and teammates, Alirez is confident in his abilities and is excited to see what the future holds. But for now, he is fully focused on his final season with the Bears and making every moment count.
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