Bid by Greeley’s Andrew Alirez for Olympics ends in semifinals at U.S. trials

Andrew Alirez’s attempt to make the U.S. Olympic wrestling team ended Friday evening with an 11-9 loss to top-seeded Nick Lee in a semifinal match at Penn State University in State College, Pa.

Alirez, a four-time state champion at Greeley Central and NCAA champion for the University of Northern Colorado, competed at 65 kilograms to be eligible for the U.S. team going to Paris this summer.

Seeded fourth in the 13-man freestyle weight class, Alirez advanced to the challenge semifinal after defeating Beau Bartlett 6-2 in a quarterfinal earlier in the day. After winning the 141-pound NCAA title for UNC in March 2023, Alirez took a redshirt year for the 2023-24 season to train for the Olympics.

— Greeley Tribune

WADA confirms it cleared 23 Chinese swimmers to compete in Toyko Olympics

SYDNEY>> The world’s top anti-doping regulator says 23 Chinese swimmers were cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for a banned heart medication because it agreed with Chinese authorities and ruled that their samples had been contaminated.

The case involves a medication called trimetazidine that was also at the center of the case that led to the suspension of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Rookie Jesse Love claims first Xfinity Series win

TALLADEGA, Ala.>> Nineteen-year-old rookie Jesse Love won the first NASCAR Xfinity Series of his career in a crash-marred, double-overtime finish at Talladega Superspeedway.

Love held off Brennan Poole and took the checkered flag 0.141 seconds ahead of Riley Herbst.

Rosenqvist gives Meyer Shank Racing first pole

LONG BEACH, Calif.>> Felix Rosenqvist’s career turnaround continued when the Swede won Meyer Shank Racing its first ever pole in IndyCar by barely edging Will Power for the top starting spot at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Pioneers’ Broz signs with Pittsburgh Penguins

University of Denver forward Tristan Broz signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins beginning in 2024-25, the NHL club announced on Saturday.

L.A. Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel dies at 83

Roman Gabriel, the former North Carolina State quarterback who was the 1969 NFL MVP with the Los Angeles Rams, died Saturday. He was 83.

He was a Pro Bowl pick four times. He also had acting roles in TV and movies, including the 1969 film “The Undefeated” with John Wayne and Rock Hudson.

Rybakina ends Swiatek’s Stuttgart reign

STUTTGART, Germany>> Elena Rybakina defeated top-ranked Iga Swiatek 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the Porsche Grand Prix final and end Swiatek’s hopes of a third consecutive title. Rybakina will play Marta Kostyuk in Sunday’s final after she beat Marketa Vondrousova 7-6 (2), 6-2.

DU men win Big East crown

The University of Denver men’s lacrosse team beat Providence 7-4 to claim its eighth Big East regular season title.

— Staff and wire reports