You don’t usually associate Greeley, Colorado, with the epicenter of Division I wrestling dominance. For a long time, the University of Northern Colorado wrestling program was just "there"—a solid mid-major that would occasionally send a guy to the national tournament to make some noise before the blue bloods took over.
But things changed. Honestly, if you haven't been paying attention for the last three or four years, you’ve missed a total transformation. We aren't talking about a "scrappy underdog" story anymore. This is a program that has started taking actual bites out of the Big 12's heavy hitters.
The Andrew Alirez Effect
It’s impossible to talk about the current state of the Bears without starting with Andrew Alirez. He’s the hometown kid who stayed home, and in 2023, he did the unthinkable: he went 28-0 and won the 141-pound NCAA National Championship.
It was a massive deal.
Why? Because it was the first D1 national title for UNC in any sport. That kind of thing changes the DNA of a building. When Alirez took down Realbuto in that final match, he didn’t just win a trophy; he proved that you don’t have to go to Iowa or Penn State to reach the top of the mountain.
Even with Alirez moving through different phases of his career, including Olympic redshirts and coaching transitions, his footprint is everywhere in the room. You see it in the way the younger guys carry themselves now.
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A New Era Under Teyon Ware
Change is constant in college sports, and the summer of 2025 brought a massive one. After eleven years of building the foundation, Troy Nickerson departed for West Point. Enter Teyon Ware.
If you know wrestling, you know the name. Ware was a legend at Oklahoma—a two-time national champ and four-time All-American. Bringing him in as the head coach was a statement. He isn't here to maintain; he's here to recruit at a level UNC hasn't seen before.
Basically, the administration is doubling down. They gave him a five-year contract right out of the gate in late 2025. It shows they aren't scared of the transition. They’ve already seen results, like Dominick Serrano continuing his tear through the 133-pound division.
Current 2025-26 Season Highlights
- Dominick Serrano's Dominance: Serrano recently went 5-0 to claim the Southern Scuffle title, earning Most Outstanding Wrestler honors.
- The Big 12 Grind: The Bears are currently navigating a brutal schedule, recently hosting No. 22 Penn in a dual that showed they can hang with the ranked squads, even in a rebuilding year.
- Weight Class Leaders: Keep an eye on Bryson Valdez at 125 and Murphy Menke at 174. Menke recently picked up a huge major decision against Penn that turned some heads.
The Facilities Aren't Just "Good for the Big Sky"
One of the biggest misconceptions about University of Northern Colorado wrestling is that they’re training in some dusty basement. Not even close.
The Harry W. Brown Wrestling Room inside the Butler-Hancock Athletic Center is over 6,300 square feet of high-end training space. They’ve got four full mats and a dedicated lounge. Plus, with the recent renovations at Bank of Colorado Arena, the dual-meet atmosphere has become genuinely hostile for visiting teams.
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They’re drawing crowds. They recently had one of their largest attendances ever for a dual against Air Force, proving that Greeley is a wrestling town.
Why the Big 12 Move Was the Turning Point
Joining the Big 12 back in 2015 was the smartest thing this program ever did. It forced them to swim with the sharks.
You can't hide in the Big 12. You're wrestling Oklahoma State, Iowa State, and Missouri. If you're soft, you get exposed. UNC spent a few years getting beat up, sure. But look at 2025: they finished fifth in the conference tournament. That’s their highest finish ever.
They crowned two champions in a single night—Serrano and Vincent Zerban.
To put that in perspective, there are legendary programs in the Midwest that didn't put two guys on the top of the podium last year. The Bears are no longer a "rest day" on the schedule for the big boys.
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Breaking Down the Roster Depth
The 2025-26 roster is deep, and it’s surprisingly local. The program makes a huge point of keeping Colorado talent in the state.
- Dominick Serrano (Senior, 133 lbs): A Windsor native who transferred back from Nebraska. He’s the heartbeat of the team right now.
- Mahonri Rushton (Senior, 184 lbs): A grinder. He’s the type of guy who wins the 4-2 matches that decide team scores.
- The Freshmen Surge: Guys like Aydan Thomas and Logan Glynn represent the first wave of the Ware era. They’re jumping straight into the deep end against ranked opponents.
Honestly, the schedule they play is terrifying. They opened this season against NC State and North Carolina on the road. That’s a "sink or swim" philosophy.
What to Expect Next for the Bears
If you're a fan or a donor, the trajectory is clear. The program is moving away from being a one-man show (the Alirez era) and into a balanced, top-20 mainstay.
To keep up with the University of Northern Colorado wrestling progress, you should focus on three things:
- Watch the March progression: The Big 12 Championships are where this team proves its worth. Watch if they can push for another top-5 team finish.
- Recruiting Trail: Watch who Teyon Ware pulls from the portal. With his connections to the Oklahoma area and the Olympic training circles, expect some high-profile names to land in Greeley.
- Home Duals: Get to the Bank of Colorado Arena. The program's revenue and "Big 12 feel" depend on that home-mat advantage.
The days of overlooking UNC are over. They have the hardware, the coaching pedigree, and the conference standing to be a problem for a very long time.
Actionable Step: Check the upcoming Big 12 dual schedule and look for the matchup against Wyoming. The "Border War" on the mat is arguably one of the most intense rivalries in the region and serves as a perfect litmus test for where the program stands mid-season.