'The Premiere Of Youth Wrestling': Tulsa Nationals Brings Thousands Of Athletes To Oklahoma

Tulsa is host to a large three day long youth wrestling tournament at the Expo Square Pavilion.

Wrestling fans from across the country are treated to the excitement at the 69th annual Tulsa Nationals. Event organizer Shane Roller says 2,500 wrestlers from 47 different states are competing.

“Tulsa’s just known for wrestling, we do a lot of awesome stuff, the sports commission brings in, the NCAA championship last year, they bring in the Big 12 championship about every year so, it’s just a hotbed for wrestling,” Roller said. 

There are rising stars and the athletes who have already made it. 

“Wrestling’s a unique sport, we have some of the best Olympians out here coaching. You don’t see that a lot in other sports, like they come back and give to the youth,” said Roller. 

“At Northern Colorado, I run my program out of there. Right after I get finished with my practice, then all the kids come in and I get ready to coach them,” said coach and college athlete Andrew Alirez, who's competed here for years.  

“This is the premiere of youth wrestling right here. If you’re a competitive wrestler, you need to be here,” Alirez said. 

Even though he’s a Division 1 National Champion, he’s never once won this tournament.

“I made the semis every single year I came here, but I’ve never got in the finals, and I never won this tournament. It's been a lot of fun trying to coach my kids. Hopefully they can go and win an Eagle," Alirez said. 

But Alirez says it isn't so much about the individual triumphs, but instead the sportsmanship and camaraderie that breeds champions.

“Sometimes we like to think this is the end of the world if you don’t win it, so I like to tell them ‘just keep wrestling, this is about development, and it's okay if you never win it, I never did'," Alirez said. 

The top six in each age category will be awarded throughout the final day. The top six get a medal and 1st-3rd place get an Eagle trophy.

 Andrew is currently chasing his dream of becoming an Olympic Gold Medalist.