Ten Memorable Andrew Alirez Matches

Earlier today, Andrew Alirez announced that, despite entering the transfer portal, he will return to Northern Colorado to spend his final year of eligibility. Alirez was an NCAA champion in 2023 for his hometown school, in Greeley, Colorado, and brought UNC their first national title since 1969. He was last seen on the mats in State College at the Olympic Team Trials before entering the transfer portal. Despite, some reportedly large NIL offers, Alirez has chosen to stay put. 

In honor of Alirez’s announcement today, we have selected some of his most notable or memorable matches. In both, freestyle and folkstyle, dating back to his junior year of high school in 2018. 

Some of the matches have been embedded in this article, while others have links attached. 

In addition to those, there is commentary to set the stage for why that particular match was significant and some of the action that occurred. 

10) Cole Matthews (Pittsburgh) - 2022 NWCA All-Star Match

Alirez’s 2022 NCAA Tournament ended prematurely in the Round of 12. That being said, we knew Alirez would be a contender the following season. To what extent? An early-season exhibition win over the top-ranked wrestler in the national and the highest placing returner, Cole Matthews, showed Alirez’s first time on the NCAA podium could land him all the way on the top. 

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