University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Top[Left to Right]: Josh Flanagan, Josh Nira, Billy Higgins. Bottom: Zeke Allrez, Jace Koelzer
@UNCBearsWrestle signs five recruits for the 2018 class
11/8/2017 5:36:00 PM | Wrestling
Josh Nira, Jace Koelzer, Zeke Allrez, Billy Higgins, and Joshua Flanagan join UNC
GREELEY, Colo.- Northern Colorado wrestling welcomes five new recruits to its team on National Signing Day. Head Coach Troy Nickerson announced the signings of Josh Nira, Jace Koelzer, Zeke Allrez, Billy Higgins, and Joshua Flanagan.
Nickerson expressed his excitement over the new class he is bringing in, "We couldn't be happier about our 2017-2018 Fall signing class. We are bringing in a ton of talent and some of it stems from our own backyard."
Not only are the new recruits talented, but they are all preforming well in the classroom, "All of our incoming kids are also excellent students as well which is one of the building blocks to our program," Nickerson said. "Each will add a significant impact to our Team's growing GPA as well."
Josh Nira
Nira is a hometown recruit for Nickerson, after he transferred to Greeley Central High School last season. Nira won the 2017 class 4A 113-pound state championship and has a 44-5 record. Â
"Josh is a Greeley Central HS kid who has been on our radar for quite some time. Josh had a break out season last year where he won a loaded state championship bracket. I think Josh is just starting to reach his potential and good things are in store for him." Nickerson said.
Jace Koelzer-125lbs
Koelzer comes to UNC from Olathe South High in Olathe Kas., where he earned four letters in wrestling. Koelzer delivered several championships to Olathe, with the 2017 Kansas State Championship, the Fargo National Championship, and the NHSCA National Championship. At UNC, Koelzer will be majoring in Psychology.
"In HS, Jace has done it all. He is a Fargo National Champion, NHSCA National Champion and multiple time All-American," Nickerson said. "Plain and simple, Jace is one of the best wrestlers in the country and we couldn't be happier than to have him as a Bear. The pace at which he competes is overwhelming and will translate nicely at the next level."
Zeke Allrez-141lbs
Allrez is very familiar with UNC, after attending Greeley Central High School and earned four letters in wrestling. Allrez had a successful high school career, after being a three-time State placer and a three-time All-Conference selection at Greeley Central. Besides wrestling, Allrez earned two letters for tennis in high school and he will be a Sports and Exercise Science major at UNC.
"Zeke is another Greeley Central HS wrestler with a ton of upside. A multiple time state place winner in Colorado, Zeke is just hitting his stride and will have great success in college." Nickerson said.
Billy Higgins-174lbs
Higgins joins UNC from Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, Neb., where he earned four letters in wrestling. At Skutt, Higgins was a two-time state finalist and was the 2017 State Champion in the 160 lb weight class. Higgins is the No. 84 overall recruit according to Intermat and will be majoring in Business at UNC. Along with wrestling, Higgins earned three letters in Football in his high school career.
"Billy is a freak athletically. His abilities are unmatched," Nickerson said. "A NHSCA National Champion as a sophomore, Billy has so much upside as a competitor it is unreal. We are very excited to get him in our system."
Joshua Flanagan-184lbs
Flanagan arrives at UNC from Platteville, Colo. and went to school right up Route 85 at Valley High School in Gilcrest, Colo. In his junior year at Valley, Flanagan won the state championship and was a NCSA All-American his sophomore year. Flanagan earned four letters in wrestling and will major in Journalism, focusing on Strategic Communications.
"Josh is a Valley HS product that is a state champion. Josh is an excellent athlete who comes from a great family," Nickerson said. "Josh is very similar to his brother, Macoy whom we already have in our program and I believe he is going to surpass his HS accomplishments by a landslide at the next level."Â
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Nickerson expressed his excitement over the new class he is bringing in, "We couldn't be happier about our 2017-2018 Fall signing class. We are bringing in a ton of talent and some of it stems from our own backyard."
Not only are the new recruits talented, but they are all preforming well in the classroom, "All of our incoming kids are also excellent students as well which is one of the building blocks to our program," Nickerson said. "Each will add a significant impact to our Team's growing GPA as well."
Josh Nira
Nira is a hometown recruit for Nickerson, after he transferred to Greeley Central High School last season. Nira won the 2017 class 4A 113-pound state championship and has a 44-5 record. Â
"Josh is a Greeley Central HS kid who has been on our radar for quite some time. Josh had a break out season last year where he won a loaded state championship bracket. I think Josh is just starting to reach his potential and good things are in store for him." Nickerson said.
Jace Koelzer-125lbs
Koelzer comes to UNC from Olathe South High in Olathe Kas., where he earned four letters in wrestling. Koelzer delivered several championships to Olathe, with the 2017 Kansas State Championship, the Fargo National Championship, and the NHSCA National Championship. At UNC, Koelzer will be majoring in Psychology.
"In HS, Jace has done it all. He is a Fargo National Champion, NHSCA National Champion and multiple time All-American," Nickerson said. "Plain and simple, Jace is one of the best wrestlers in the country and we couldn't be happier than to have him as a Bear. The pace at which he competes is overwhelming and will translate nicely at the next level."
Zeke Allrez-141lbs
Allrez is very familiar with UNC, after attending Greeley Central High School and earned four letters in wrestling. Allrez had a successful high school career, after being a three-time State placer and a three-time All-Conference selection at Greeley Central. Besides wrestling, Allrez earned two letters for tennis in high school and he will be a Sports and Exercise Science major at UNC.
"Zeke is another Greeley Central HS wrestler with a ton of upside. A multiple time state place winner in Colorado, Zeke is just hitting his stride and will have great success in college." Nickerson said.
Billy Higgins-174lbs
Higgins joins UNC from Skutt Catholic High School in Omaha, Neb., where he earned four letters in wrestling. At Skutt, Higgins was a two-time state finalist and was the 2017 State Champion in the 160 lb weight class. Higgins is the No. 84 overall recruit according to Intermat and will be majoring in Business at UNC. Along with wrestling, Higgins earned three letters in Football in his high school career.
"Billy is a freak athletically. His abilities are unmatched," Nickerson said. "A NHSCA National Champion as a sophomore, Billy has so much upside as a competitor it is unreal. We are very excited to get him in our system."
Joshua Flanagan-184lbs
Flanagan arrives at UNC from Platteville, Colo. and went to school right up Route 85 at Valley High School in Gilcrest, Colo. In his junior year at Valley, Flanagan won the state championship and was a NCSA All-American his sophomore year. Flanagan earned four letters in wrestling and will major in Journalism, focusing on Strategic Communications.
"Josh is a Valley HS product that is a state champion. Josh is an excellent athlete who comes from a great family," Nickerson said. "Josh is very similar to his brother, Macoy whom we already have in our program and I believe he is going to surpass his HS accomplishments by a landslide at the next level."Â
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