Former Rider All-American Sammy Alvarez announces commitment to Iowa

Former Rider wrestling All-American Sammy Alvarez committed to Iowa out of the NCAA transfer portal, he announced on Instagram. It’ll be the fourth school of his career and final year of eligibility.

Because Alvarez qualified as a grad transfer, he was able to enter the portal after it closed Friday. Alvarez finished 7th at 149 pounds at the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Alvarez began his career at Rutgers, where he was a 2020 NWCA Coaches All-American and seeded No. 10 at the canceled 2020 NCAA Tournament. He wrestled two more seasons with the Scarlet Knights at 133 and 141 pounds before weight issues piled up.

Alvarez never wrestled at the NCAA Tournament with Rutgers and eventually transferred to Oklahoma State, where he spent a little more than a season with the Cowboys. After being in and out of the lineup, Alvarez transferred again, this time to Rider, where he became the starter at 149 pounds.

Alvarez holds a career record of 78-24 since his freshman campaign in 2019-20. He went 26-9 as a true freshman at Rutgers, but didn’t wrestle more than 15 matches in a season until this past year.

Alvarez repped Rider and went 25-7 and finished 7th at 149 pounds, becoming an All-American at the NCAA Tournament for the first time. He beat former Oklahoma State teammate Jordan Williams (who was at Arkansas-Little Rock this past season), 5-0 in the Blood Round to get onto the podium.

After NCAAs, he spoke to members of the media, including On3, about what was next for him and seemed to imply that college wrestling was in the rearview mirror. Now, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

A feel good story. Sammy Alvarez was a 2020 Coaches All-American for Rutgers, had weight issues, a short stint at Oklahoma State and finally gets to wrestle at the NCAA Tournament for @RiderWrestling. Finishes 7th at 149 pounds. @On3sports x #On3Wrestling pic.twitter.com/DccXTalvHj

— Nick Kosko (@nickkosko59) March 22, 2025

He’s projected to go 149 pounds as of now but perhaps a move to 157 doesn’t seem out of the question. Alvarez originally committed and signed with NC State out of high school before enrolling at Rutgers in the Class of 2019. He was a three-time New Jersey state finalist and 2019 state champion at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale).

Currently, here is Iowa’s projected lineup for 2025-26 per WrestleStat. A talented wrestler might be on the bench since Alvarez will have to beat out Williams, a former Oklahoma State teammate, or move up to 157 and beat Voinovich. Neither of those two have a redshirt available. Ironically, Bailey has a redshirt available, but Alvarez would have to cut to 141 pounds.

Iowa Lineup for 2025-26
125: Dean Peterson (Rutgers transfer), Sr.
133: Drake Ayala, Sr.
141: Nasir Bailey (Arkansas-Little Rock transfer), Jr.
149: Jordan Williams (Arkansas-Little Rock transfer), Jr.
157: Victor Voinovich, Jr.
165: Mikey Caliendo, Sr.
174: Patrick Kennedy, Sr./Gabe Arnold, So.
184: Angelo Ferrari, RS-Fr./Gabe Arnold, So.
197: Massoma Endene (Wartburg College transfer), Sr.
285: Ben Kueter, So.