[5] According to Intermatwrestle.com, Welch was the top ranked high school wrestler when he signed to Northwestern University.

[7] As a true freshman, he qualified for the NCAA Wrestling National Championship Tournament.

As a redshirt sophomore Welch qualified for the NCAA tournament again and placed 6th after losing to Bubba Jenkins of Arizona State in the semi-finals to earn All-American honors.

[8] In 2011, during Welch's red shirt junior season, he was invited to wrestle at the 46th NWCA All-Star Classic where he beat Ganbayar Sanjaa of American University.

Welch won the famed 49th Midlands tournament hosted by his home school, Northwestern and led Northwestern to its highest team place at the tournament with the Wildcats placing 2nd overall behind Iowa.