Wartburg and Johnson & Wales tie for NCAA Div. III Nationals team title

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- They expected a tight battle this weekend at the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships.

It doesn't get any closer.

After back-to-back wins by Wartburg to move ahead in the team race, Joziah Fry of tournament host Johnson & Wales beat Christian Guzman of North Central 10-5 in the final bout, winning his third national title at 125 pounds, ending the tournament in a tie for the championship with 83.5 points.

It marked the first time two teams have tied for the title.

It also was the first time a team other than Wartburg or Augsburg finished first as a team since 1994.

It gave Wartburg a 16-15 edge over Augsburg in team titles.

And it gave JWU Coach Lonnie Morris the championship hats and T-shirts he coveted.

"We've always talked to the kids about it's all about winning the hats and the T-shirts; we don't really (care) about the trophy as much as when you win the hats and the T-shirts it means you're the winning team," Morris said.

"It was a great weekend. We came in and we believed we could win it right from the regionals. ... At the end of the day we made it happen."

Meanwhile, Wartburg owed thanks to North Central for helping it finish first, just as it did when it won the title in 2022. Guzman, who lost to Fry by technical fall in last year's final kept the match within eight points so Fry couldn't get a bonus point that would have made Johnson & Wales the sole champion. In 2022, North Central won a head-to-head championship match with Wabash that preserved Wartburg's one-point lead over Wabash.

"North Central will always have a sweet spot in my heart because it was my first head coaching job (2005-06), so it's kind of a crazy irony that twice now North Central has played a part in our national championships," said Wartburg head coach Eric Keller.

Fry said he wasn't surprised that he saw a different Guzman this year.

"Guzman's a great athlete, a great kid on and off the mat," he said. "He's a great competitor, so we had a great match and that's what it is."

Fry knew what was on the line, and he actually had to battle back after Guzman scored the first takedown. But an escape and takedown gave him a 4-3 lead, then he flipped Guzman onto his back for a key four-point near fall that gave him some breathing room.

"Going into this finals match was kind of nerve-wracking because I knew I had to win in order for our team to win the national championship ... ," Fry admitted. "As soon as I stepped on the mat, all the nerves went away and I was locked in. I knew I was better than him, I knew I put the work in -- all those 6 a.m. workouts, everything I did working up to this -- I knew I did everything right.

Wartburg showed its inner strength in the previous two matches. First, Massoma Endene tied the team score at 79.5-79.5 with a major decision at 197, then Mitch Williamson put the Knights ahead in the team race for the first time since late Friday when he scored a late takedown to win at 285.

"Me and Mitchell going out there and just doing our job, that's what it's all about," said Endene, who used two takedowns in the first period and another in the second to secure his third national title at 197 with an 11-3 major decision against Cameron Butka of Wilkes.

"It's not the match I wanted, but I'm grateful," Endene said. "I can't control everything in the match, I can just do what's in my God-given potential. I wanted to tech him or pin him to really secure that for our team, but a major decision I'm grateful for."

Williamson, who came into the tournament unseeded despite an 18-1 record, got the Wartburg crowd excited when he lifted Coast Guard's Carl DiGiorgio and dumped him to the mat for a takedown with two seconds left for a 4-1 win.

"There were about 10 or 15 seconds left and I knew, I was facing the clock, so I knew, 'All right, if I want to get this I have to get it now and I have to go and make a sprint and go get it, and I just did," Williamson said. "I went out there, created some action and ended up on top."

Then he and Endene stuck around to watch one of Division III's most dominant wrestlers in Fry and see what their team's fate would be.

"I did my job; I knew I got my win, I did what I can do, now it's relying on someone else who wasn't a part of our team, that's rare, I think. I was just rooting for him (Guzman), cheering for him."

The wins capped a weekend that saw five of Wartburg's six qualifiers earn All-America honors.

"It's a special, resilient team," Keller said. "One of the things we talked about since the qualifier was this is a group that's proved people wrong their whole lives. And nothing's more fun than proving people wrong. I know that us having six (qualifiers) I know a lot of people wrote us off, and they knew that. So we knew what we had. Obviously, you've got to come and perform and you've got to do it, but it's pretty powerful the belief in yourself and the belief in each other and what that can do. That's really what this team's about and what it's been about.

"Our group of leaders on our team came up with the slogan, 'To the man,' which meant every single person in this program, the accountability piece, the support, the leadership, all of it, to the man, represents every single guy, and that's what this team has been about."

Johnson & Wales opened the final session with a one-point lead over Wartburg (75.5-74.5) with Augsburg another half point back.

"The kids wrestled hard all weekend, getting bonus points, Morris said. "Every point matters. I know some kids who didn't make All-American think they don't matter, but every single point that we gain that's the reason we're national champs, and I'm really proud of them."

That means Johnson & Wales' non-placers Peyton Ellis (4 points scored in the tournament), Jack Richardson (3) and Jake Eckerle (2) and Wartburg's Brett Birchman (2.5) all can claim they made the difference between a first- and second-place finish.

Hayden Brown got the Wildcats off to a good start in the final session with a 5-0 win over Cortland State's Angelo Centrone at 149 pounds. The win upped the Wildcats' total to 79.5.

The team race made the championship more special for Brown, but so did the fact that he came back for an extra year after missing the 2023-24 season with an injury.

"Every single year since my senior year of high school I felt denied, come up short," he said. "I found myself in a dark place. I found myself in that same spot last year when I tore my ACL and I knew I was the best in the country, the best in the world. I learned from all those years of experience from picking yourself back up and I've learned from my dad who had a spiral aneurysm when I was 8 years old and was able to walk again if you put your mind to it you can make it happen. That made this that much more special."

After a scoreless period, Brown of Johnson & Wales lit a spark under the home fans when he refused to concede control when Angelo Centrone of Cortland State shot a single-leg, lifted and dumped him to the mat. It brought a roar from the crowd and Brown then managed to outmuscle Centrone and get behind him for a takedown and a 4-0 lead with 1:20 left in the second period.

RANDALL WINS AGAIN

There was little drama in the opening match two match of the session.

Chase Randall opened the night with a 16-8 major decision against Coe's Bryce Parke to become a two-time champion for the United State Coast Guard Academy.

"This one feels a lot more real," Randall said. "Honestly it was pretty insane to come in here as the favorite, go in there and have everyone have some respect for my name and know that I'm that legit. So it was really cool to come in here and be the guy to beat, where before I was the one upsetting and going out trying to take down the king."

Randall used three first-period takedowns to build a 9-2 lead, and it never got closer than six thereafter.

A FIRST FOR ROANOKE

Mark Samuel made history in the night's second match, at 141, by becoming the first champion in Roanoke history. He beat Sean Conway of the University of Chicago 9-2.

"It feels absolutely amazing; it's awesome," he said.

Samuel used a reversal to go ahead 2-0 with 1:20 left in the second period and turned Conway for four points about a minute later. A third-period takedown following two stalling penalties iced the win at 9-2.

"I would say the key was staying composed, definitely pacing myself and then definitely scoring from top," he said.

Samuel didn't need any more drama after beating defending champion Josh Wilson of Greensboro in the semifinals 2-1 in overtime tiebreakers. Samuel thought he had won in the two-minute sudden victory when he was awarded a takedown with 32 seconds left. Greensboro challenged the call, though, and it was overturned.

"That semifinal match was a very big one for me," Samuel said. "Josh had beaten me seven times before then, so obviously that was a very big mountain for me to climb."

COMING BACK FOR THIRDS

Baldwin Wallace's Michael Petrella joined Endene and Fry in the three-title club when he beat Cooper Pontelandolfo 4-2 at 157 pounds. Both of his points came in the second period with an escape and takedown for a 4-0 lead. It was the 116th win in a row for Petrella, who last lost in the Division III finals his freshman year.

"It just means I had a lot of consistency," Petrella said. "It just means I worked really hard. I had a lot of support -- I can't name how many people came and helped me on my path, and it just means a lot how everyone came -- I just didn't do this myself."

He also complimented Pontelandolfo.

"He's a tough competitor," Petrella said. "I knew I was going to have to fight. I knew he was really strong so I was going to have to keep my ties up. A lot of props to him. He wrestled hard; he didn't just give up. I felt like I wrestled good. I could have wrestled a little better. I could have calmed down a bit in the second period where I got all those cautions and locking hands, but other than that it was pretty good."

A BITTERSWEET FIRST FOR ALVERNIA

The Lackman brothers reached the finals together for the second time Saturday night, and once again only one went home a champion.

Two years ago, Nathan Lackman denied his brother Matt a title when they met in the final at 165 pounds, Nathan for Rhode Island College and Matt for Alvernia. This season, Nathan joined his brother at Alvernia, using an extra year of eligibility to compete as a graduate student.

Matt made it to the finals at 165, Nathan at 174.

Matt became the first champion in school history with a 6-0 win over Augsburg's Cooper Willis.

"That feels amazing," Matt said. "It was a long time coming. Nobody sees the work we put in, but it's a lot of work a long time and it feels really good.

He went ahead in the first period on a takedown with 48 seconds left. A reversal in the second period added to the score, which bumped up to 6-0 on riding time.

"I think sticking to what I do best, getting a lead and build it (was the key)," he said.

STRICKER REPEATS AT 174

Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Jared Stricker prevented Nathan Lackman from winning a third title when he won his second with a 7-1 decision at 174.

"You want to compete against the best and beat the best, it just proves that you're better," said Stricker, a national runner-up in 2023.

After a scoreless first period, Stricker started down in the second period and escaped in two seconds. He added a takedown with 14 seconds left in the period, then tacked on another in the third period to ice it.

"I was just trying to focus on scoring points and not giving up anything," he said. "(Keys were) not letting him get to his offense and scoring my points, making sure I'm riding guys when I'm on top, that's a big part of my game."

A WIN IN SUDDEN VICTORY

Marcus Orlandoni of Wisconsin-La Crosse ended Augsburg's hopes for winning its third straight team title when he defeated Brandt Bombard 2-1 in sudden victory to claim the title at 184. The winning point came when Bombard was called for stalling on the edge of the mat, a call that was upheld after a challenge by the Auggies.

"I thought I had done enough to get that stall call," Orlandoni said. "I couldn't belief it at first; my coaches just told me be prepared to wrestle again, so I had to get back in this zone, but I'm just so happy that it turned out the way it did and let's go."

It was the third time the two squared off this season.

"I beat him the first time at National Duals and he got it back in the regional finals and I was able to get back on top when it mattered the most."

BREAKDOWN BY REGIONS

Region VI, with teams from the old Lower Midwest Region, put the most wrestlers on the awards stand with 15 All-Americans during the two-day event.

Region VI and Region III had 12 each, while Region I had 11, Region IV nine and Region II eight.

Regions I and VI had the most finalists, with four apiece. Regions III and VI had three finalists each, while Regions II, IV and V had five each.

NCAA DIV. III NATIONALS

At Providence, R.I., March 14-15, 2025

Gold-Medal Finals

133 - Chase Randall (Coast Guard) 27-0 won by major decision over Bryce Parke (Coe) 26-5 (MD 16-8)

141 - Mark Samuel (Roanoke) 28-4 won by decision over Sean Conway (UChicago) 40-11 (Dec 9-3)

149 - Hayden Brown (JWU (Providence)) 40-1 won by decision over Angelo Centrone (Cortland) 29-1 (Dec 5-0)

157 - Michael Petrella (Baldwin Wallace) 40-0 won by decision over Cooper Pontelandolfo (NYU) 34-1 (Dec 4-2)

165 - Matt Lackman (Alvernia) 38-2 won by decision over Cooper Willis (Augsburg) 30-2 (Dec 6-0)

174 - Jared Stricker (Wis.-Eau Claire) 43-0 won by decision over Nathan Lackman (Alvernia) 37-3 (Dec 7-1)

184 - Marcus Orlandoni (Wis.-La Crosse) 21-3 won in sudden victory - 1 over Brandt Bombard (Augsburg) 28-6 (SV-1 2-1)

197 - Massoma Endene (Wartburg) 20-0 won by major decision over Cameron Butka (Wilkes) 38-3 (MD 11-3)

285 - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) 23-1 won by decision over Carl DiGiorgio (Coast Guard) 27-3 (Dec 4-1)

125 - Joziah Fry (JWU (Providence)) 42-0 won by decision over Christian Guzman (North Central (IL)) 35-1 (Dec 10-5)

Medal match results

125

3rd Place Match - Mason Barrett (Averett) 31-5 won in tie breaker - 1 over Zach Beckner (Ferrum) 22-2 (TB-1 2-2)

5th Place Match - Brayden Parke (Coe) 28-7 won by decision over Jake Craig (Southern Me.) 28-8 (Dec 4-0)

7th Place Match - Benyamin Kamali (Olivet) 30-4 won by decision over Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 25-10 (Dec 10-4)

133

3rd Place Match - Jaden Hinton (Baldwin Wallace) 34-7 won by tech fall over James Day (Wabash) 39-7 (TF-1.5 4:18 (17-1))

5th Place Match - Dominik Mallinder (Wis.-Whitewater) 25-4 won by fall over Garrett Totten (TCNJ) 21-3 (Fall 1:54)

7th Place Match - Chance Suddeth (Augsburg) 29-8 won by fall over Connor Kidd (Luther) 22-14 (Fall 1:50)

141

3rd Place Match - Bradley Rosen (North Central (IL)) 26-3 won by major decision over Ty Bisek (Concordia-M`head) 30-2 (MD 22-12)

5th Place Match - Josh Wilson (Greensboro) 30-3 won by decision over Pierre Baldwin (Central (IA)) 25-4 (Dec 4-2)

7th Place Match - Tommy Thongseng (Wartburg) 27-10 won by major decision over Luke Hoerle (Stevens) 17-6 (MD 12-3)

149

3rd Place Match - Kyler Romero (Wartburg) 31-2 won by decision over Matt Randolph (Augsburg) 31-4 (Dec 3-1)

5th Place Match - Thomas Monn (McDaniel) 35-3 won by fall over Colby Frost (Southern Me.) 38-4 (Fall 4:09)

7th Place Match - Michael Conklin (TCNJ) 37-7 won by major decision over Mike Glynn (RIT) 26-5 (MD 9-0)

157

3rd Place Match - Eric Kinkaid (Loras) 27-4 won by decision over Aiden Smith (Adrian) 32-3 (Dec 4-3)

5th Place Match - Peter Kane (Williams) 42-2 won by major decision over Tyler Goebel (Wis.-La Crosse) 27-5 (MD 11-2)

7th Place Match - Ryan Smith (Stevens) 25-6 won by decision over Clayton McDonough (Luther) 33-9 (Dec 7-3)

165

3rd Place Match - Tanner Gerber (Wis.-La Crosse) 22-2 won by major decision over Brayden Peet (Wis.-Whitewater) 25-6 (MD 15-6)

5th Place Match - Andrew Supers (Baldwin Wallace) 40-6 won by decision over Jake Deguire (Springfield) 31-11 (Dec 22-21)

7th Place Match - CJ Christopher Shea (Wesleyan (CT)) 38-3 won by medical forfeit over Nicholas Sacco (TCNJ) 21-10 (M. For.)

174

3rd Place Match - Seth Goetzinger (Augsburg) 25-5 won by major decision over Dejon Glaster (Millikin) 34-4 (MD 20-9)

5th Place Match - Hunter Mays (TCNJ) 30-8 won by decision over LJ Richardson (Coe) 25-7 (Dec 3-2)

7th Place Match - Zeb Gnida (Loras) 23-2 won by tech fall over Javen Estrada (North Central (IL)) 21-6 (TF-1.5 3:30 (17-1))

184

3rd Place Match - Jack Ryan (SUNY Oneonta) 35-2 won in sudden victory - 1 over Ganon Smith (Elizabethtown) 36-5 (SV-1 4-1)

5th Place Match - Kasey Ross (Wartburg) 31-3 won by decision over Tyler Withers (Merchant Marine) 33-6 (Dec 6-5)

7th Place Match - Jared Voss (Coe) 27-6 won by fall over Xavier Pommells (Ithaca) 29-13 (Fall 2:24)

197

3rd Place Match - Charles Baczek (Wabash) 30-3 won by decision over Joseph Petrella (Baldwin Wallace) 27-4 (Dec 5-0)

5th Place Match - Dylan Harr (JWU (Providence)) 12-5 won by major decision over Ian Pepple (Wis.-Eau Claire) 37-14 (MD 13-3)

7th Place Match - Ben Kawczynski (Wis.-La Crosse) 23-7 won by major decision over Jackson Punzel (Wheaton (IL)) 15-9 (MD 10-0)

285

3rd Place Match - Josh Harkless (RIT) 33-1 won by decision over Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) 30-2 (Dec 4-2)

5th Place Match - Austin Cooley (Schreiner) 29-4 won by fall over Adolfo Betancur (JWU (Providence)) 27-9 (Fall 2:05)

7th Place Match - Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 20-5 won by decision over Robby Bates (North Central (IL)) 27-7 (Dec 7-5)

NCAA Div. III Team Standings

1            JWU (Providence)             83.5

1            Wartburg              83.5

3            Augsburg             74.0

4            Baldwin Wallace 69.0

5            Wis.-La Crosse    65.0

6            Coe        60.0

6            North Central (IL)              60.0

8            Alvernia               58.0

9            Coast Guard         40.5

9            Wis.-Eau Claire   40.5

11           TCNJ     38.0

12          Wabash 32.5

13          Wis.-Whitewater 31.0

14          Roanoke               28.5

15          Ferrum   27.5