The Northern Colorado wrestling team needed a win Friday night in a Big 12 Conference match against California Baptist University.
The Bears earned a victory, 27-12 over the Lancers at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley. The match was UNC’s second at home in two weeks, and followed a disappointing loss to fellow Big 12 opponent North Dakota State.
UNC, 1-2 in the Big 12 and 8-4 overall in duals this season, collected wins in seven of 10 bouts against the Lancers: Stevo Poulin (125 pounds), Andrew Alirez (141), Vincent Zerban (157), Clayton Ulrey (165), AJ Heeg (184), Andrew Donahue (197), and heavyweight Jose Valdez, a decision in overtime in the final match of the night.
With the final score and team match result in hand when Valdez stepped on the mat, the senior transfer tied the bout late in the third period with a one-point escape.
The move led to chants of “Jose, Jose, Jose” from Bears teammates before Valdez closed out the match with his first win of the year, 4-1 in sudden victory.
“That’s what we want to see from these guys, right, we want them getting behind their teammates,” UNC coach Troy Nickerson said. “We want them doing it for more than just themselves, and we did that this week.”
University of Northern Colorado wrestling coach Troy Nickerson watches his team during the Bears’ 27-12 Big 12 Conference win over California Baptist on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Nickerson said earlier in the week and again after the match Friday that preparation included team talks and better training following a lackluster effort a week ago in a loss against conference opponent North Dakota State.
Nickerson and Zerban said the Bears were focused this week. The 16th ranked Zerban (11-2) said after the match the guys were “100% bought in this week” as opposed to the mindset leading into NDSU. Zerban beat Cal Baptist’s Darren Green by major decision 14-2, yet he was not satisfied with the result.
A major decision occurs when one wrestler defeats another by eight to 14 points.
“Gotta finish matches out a little bit better,” Zerban said.
Nationally ranked No. 9 Poulin moved to 17-1 on the year, starting the match with a technical fall win over Mitchell Neiner, 18-3.
University of Northern Colorado junior Stevo Poulin flexes after winning the 125-pound match against California Baptist’s Mitchell Neiner on a 18-3 technical fall Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley. Poulin (17-1) is ranked ninth in the nation at 125 . The Bears won the match 27-12.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)The Bears led 11-5 three bouts into the match after Andrew Alirez pinned Brady Hoshino in 31 seconds at 141. Alirez is 7-0 this season and ranked second nationally as he goes for a second NCAA title.
Nickerson said he didn’t think the Bears established momentum in the match until the eighth bout of the night at 184 pounds.
UNC freshman AJ Heeg faced Cal Baptist redshirt junior Nathan Haas in a tight clash and the only one of the night between two nationally ranked athletes. Heeg came in at No. 28 and Haas was 30th.
Heeg (11-8) had a better night from a week ago when he lost by major decision to North Dakota State’s Aiden Brenot. Heeg said he’s been sick and Friday was the first night he felt like him.
“It was good to be back out there,” Heeg added. “After a match like that, getting taken down and then going to get take downs it honestly helps my confidence a little bit. Lets me know I can go out there, get take downs and win matches.”
Heeg came up with two late escapes against Haas in the third period for a 9-8 decision. The wrestlers were tied 4-4 at the end of the first period. Heeg led 7-5 after two periods. Haas (13-10) scored a takedown for an 8-7 lead before Heeg’s points on escapes.
“Really kicking it in,” Nickerson said of Heeg’s win and its effect on the team. “I feel good about the direction this program is headed, and we just needed that win tonight.”
Windsor High School graduate Dominick Serrano (12-2) did not wrestle again this week as the Bears starter at 133. Nickerson said Serrano was a “game-time decision” to sit, and he’ll return next week.
University of Northern Colorado’s Andrew Alirez pins California Baptist’s Brady Hoshino in 31 seconds during their 141-pound bout Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley. Alirez, ranked second nationally at 141, improved to 7-0 this season with the win. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Freshman Mikai Alirez again took Serrano’s spot in the lineup, and again Alirez came out with a lopsided loss by technical fall. A technical fall is when one wrestler scores at least 15 more points than the opponent. The match is then over.
Alirez is the younger brother of Andrew Alirez and a state champion a year ago at Greeley Central.
Mikai Alirez (1-4) had a tough night a week ago against Kyle Burwick of North Dakota State when he filled in for Serrano. Burwick beat Alirez on a tech fall 15-0.
Cal Baptist senior Hunter Leake (3-5) also defeated Alirez by technical fall Friday, 16-0 at the 5-minute mark of the match. Leake last year became the first Lancers wrestler to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
Nickerson said Alirez had “a little better” performance Friday against Leake.
“He still is struggling to trust getting to his offense,” the coach said. “I think the moment is getting to him a little bit, just being out there in front of a crowd. Not just doing what these kids have done their entire lives, right?”
The Bears’ next match is Sunday, Feb. 2 at Big 12 Conference opponent Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona.
UNC returns home for its final home match of the year on Sunday, Feb. 23 against Air Force. The match begins at 2 p.m. at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Northern Colorado 27, California Baptist 12
125 — Northern Colorado’s Stevo Poulin tech fall Mitchell Neiner, 18-3, 3:48. 133 — California Baptist’s Hunter Leake tech fall Mikai Alirez, 16-0, 5:00. 141 — Northern Colorado’s Andrew Alirez p. Brady Hoshino, 0:31. 149 — California Baptist’s Paul Kelly major decision Adam Busiello, 9-0. 157 — Northern Colorado’s Vincent Zerban major decision Darren Green, 14-2. 165 — Northern Colorado’s Clayton Ulrey dec. Daniel Manibog, 4-2. 174 — California Baptist’s Carter Schmidt dec. Aydin Rix-McElhinney, 8-6. 184 — Northern Colorado’s AJ Heeg dec. Nathan Haas, 9-8. 197 — Northern Colorado’s Andrew Donahue dec. Eli Sheeren, 7-3. 285 — Northern Colorado’s Jose Valdez dec. 4-1, sudden victory-1.
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