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Northern Colorado wrestling national champion Andrew Alirez enters NCAA transfer portal

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko05/01/24nickkosko59
USATSI_20266399 (1)
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Andrew Alirez entered the NCAA transfer portal, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed. The Northern Colorado wrestler was the 2023 national champion at 141 pounds.

He took a redshirt year in 2023-24 to focus on the Olympics, although he came up short at the Trials earlier this month. He has a 72-10 career record.

During his first year on campus, Alirez was a 2020 NCAA qualifier, going 19-4, but the tournament was canceled at the beginning of the pandemic.

He went 4-1 during the shortened 2021 campaign, but medically forfeited out of the Big 12 Tournament.

The 2022 tournament saw more success for Alirez as he finished the season 22-5 but fell one win shy of All-American status.

It was the following year where he jumped levels. Alirez went 27-0 en route to a national title at 141 pounds, beating Iowa’s Real Woods 6-4 in the final.

“I wanted to go to a place where wrestling is really supported. You win a national title here in Greeley, Colorado, and they love you. And I’ve felt that love throughout the community,” Alirez said. “I came here to get the ball rolling on a program I believed in, and now you’re starting to see it. We constantly, every year, get top 100 recruits in the country, we’ve gotten guys who are top 20 in the country, or in their weight class, are No. 1 in the country. We’re getting guys and moving in the right direction.” 

Going into an Olympic year, Alirez went full throttle in his attempt to represent Team USA. Although he fell short, Alirez has the opportunity to win one more national title before it’s all said and done.

“I believe in my skills,” Alirez said of his decision to take an Olympic redshirt. “I know this was the path set out for me. I know it’s almost a pre-determined destiny. It’s just my job to do what I’ve got to do, to stay on the path and go get it done.”

Following the Olympic Trials, Alirez planned to finish his degree at Northern Colorado. He still has one year of eligibility remaining for graduate school due to having a COVID year in 2021.

Once his wrestling career is over, Alirez plans to pursue boxing like his father and uncles.

“You start something, you finish it,” Alirez said.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.