Andrew Alirez had an illustrious high school wrestling career at Greeley Central High and has been continuing his dominance at the University of Northern Colorado. When Alirez was a Wildcat he went to four straight state championships and won all of them. In 2018 & 2019 Alirez also placed third and second at the Junior US Open. Alirez also won the 2019 Junior Hodge Trophy which is the high school equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. The dominance Alirez showed throughout high school proved him to be deserving of the #1 Overall Wrestling Recruit for the Class of 2019.
There were many places Alirez could have wrestled at, but his passion to stay near his family and build up a program with a coach he believed in outweighed adventure. Many believed Alirez could reach this goal, but Covid, injury, and not being prepared as he wanted to be delayed the inevitable of Alirez becoming an All-American and National Champion.
Alirez said in his post match interview that he made many sacrifices and prepared right this year. The change reflected throughout the entire year from small changes like the change to a serious face in his usually smiley roster photo to the big things like the margin of victory and lack of take-downs allowed all season.
Not only did Alirez have an amazing season, but he finished the season with a perfect 28-0 record among his extensive accolades. Alirez defeated many foes along the way, but he won his National Championship in dramatic fashion 6-4 against a three time All-American with a 20-0 record previous to the match.
Alirez has truly set the standard for UNC Wrestling now and for the foreseeable future as the list of firsts and going where no Bear has gone at the Division I level. Now UFC Star, Justin Gaethje was UNC’s last All-American in 2010 when he finished 7th at the NCAA Finals in the 157 lb. division.
Alirez is UNC’s first to win a Division I National Championship since 1962 and first since the University as a whole moved up to Division I in 2006. This brings the program’s total titles into double digits with 10 over the course of the Division II and earlier history. Alirez is the also program’s first to win two Big 12 Conference titles, a Division I Conference title and National title, and Big 12 Wrestler of the Year.
The 2023 wrestling season was remarkable for Alirez as he dominated the competition and set the bar for future Bears. In recognition of Alirez’s outstanding season he is nominated for the 2023 Collegiate Hodge Trophy, the senior of the Junior Hodge trophy he won in 2019 for most outstanding high school wrestler in the nation. In a recent fan vote on WIN Magazine’s website Alirez finished third among fan votes.
Monday March 27th at 1pm. MT time the winner of the “wrestling’s Heisman” will be announced. Regardless of the result, Alirez can claim himself to be the best Bear in UNC’s wrestling history at the Division I level.
Conference Champion, All-American, National Champion.
Bear Claw Media 
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