La Crosse, Wisconsin (March 16, 2024) - Alvernia University senior
Matthew Lackman took third in the 165 lb weight class on Saturday at the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Lackman started his day facing the fourth-seeded Noah Leisgang of UW La Crosse. Lackman defeated Leisgang in last year's championship semifinal, and, this year, Leisgang flipped the script in front of his home crowd at the La Crosse Center. Lackman and Leisgang traded escape points to open the second and third periods, but neither took significant shots as the bout remained at 1-1 late in the third period. With under ten seconds to go, Leisgang got Lackman into a takedown to score three points and take a 4-1 lead. Alvernia's coaching staff challenged the takedown, but official review upheld the call. Lackman had one final shot at Leisgang coming out of the review, but was unable to even the bout up as Leisgang advanced to the finals on the 4-1 decision over Lackman.
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Lackman then moved into the consolation bracket and faced #3 Cooper Willis of Augsburg. Lackman got off to a quick start and scored three takedown points early in the first period. He took a 5-0 lead to start the second period with two points off a reversal. He kept Willis off the board in the third period while picking up a point for riding time as he came away with the 6-0 decision to move into the third place bout.
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Lackman faced unseeded Tristan Massie of UW Eau Claire for third place. Lackman started off with a takedown midway through the first period to take a 3-0 lead. Massie then got one back on an escape and made it 3-2 with another escape in the second period. Lackman then fended off late efforts by Massie in the third period and picked up one final point on an escape late in the third to secure a third place finish with a 4-2 decision over Massie.
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With the win, Lackman secured his third podium finish in as many NCAA Championship appearances. Lackman took fifth in 2022, second in 2023, and third at this year's championship.
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