Providence, Rhode Island - Matthew Lackman became the first NCAA National Champion in Alvernia University history on Saturday night after winning the 165 lb bracket at the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.

Lackman defeated Cooper Willis of Augsburg by a 6-0 decision to win the national title and become the first National Champion in Alvernia history. 

"It feels amazing," said Lackman, "It has been a long time coming…and it is a lot of work and it takes a long time. [Winning the championship] feels really good."

"I would like to thank God, for sure," added Lackman. "I also want to thank our coaching staff, my family, all my teammates and especially, Nate [Lackman] too."

Nathan Lackman, a two-time National Champion for Rhode Island College at 157 lbs and 165 lbs, took second place tonight in the 174 lbs bracket. Nathan Lackman came to Alvernia for a graduate year following a year off after winning the 165 lb bracket over Matthew two years ago.

"It has been everything," said Matthew of competing their final year together. "He didn't have to come back, right? He could have sailed off into the sunset with two national championships. But he didn't, and he came back in part for me. But also for himself, because he is that fierce of a competitor. He laid it all out there and I'm just super grateful for him." 

The Golden Wolves also finished eighth in the team standings with 58 points, marking Alvernia's best ever team finish at the National Championship. 

How it Happened - Finals

• For the third time in his career, Matthew Lackman took on Cooper Willis of Augsburg University. The two had faced each other the past two NCAA National Championships, and Lackman had bettered Willis on both occasions. Lackman continued the trend on Saturday night, taking an early 3-0 lead over Willis on a first period takedown. Lackman then opened the second period with an early reversal to take a 5-0 lead. He held off a push from Wilis late in the third period, and picked up one more point for riding time to take the 6-0 victory.
• Nathan Lackman faced the defending 174 lb National Champion and top-seeded wrestler Jared Stricker for his championship bout. After a scoreless first period, Stricker racked up four points off an escape and takedown in the second period to take a 4-0 lead. Stricker then grabbed three more points off a takedown to open the third period. Lackman picked up a point on a late escape, but he ran out of time as Stricker took the 7-1 win. 

How it Happened - Session 3

• Matthew Lackman secured his second trip to the championship bout with a 2-0 decision over 5th seed Andrew Supers of Baldwin Wallace. After a scoreless first period, Lackman secured a point on an escape to open the second period. He then held off Supers the rest of the way and gathered up enough riding time to secure a point at the end for the 2-0 win.
• Nathan Lackman vs. Seth Goetzinger of Augsburg (7th seed): Lackman secured his third trip to the championship bout - and first with Alvernia - with a 4-3 decision over 7th seed Seth Goetzinger of Augsburg. The bout was back and forth from the jump. Lackman secured first period points off an escape and a takedown to take 4-0 lead. Goetzinger picked up one point before the conclusion of the opening period with a late escape. Lackman fended off Goetzinger the rest of the way, including holding off a late takedown attempt that went to review. The review confirmed no takedown as Lackman secured the 4-3 win.
• Keito Shaw started his day with the consolation quarters, where he took on Brayden Parke of Coe College. Parke got an early takedown of Shaw, but Shaw was able to escape to pick up a point. But, Parke picked up another takedown and rolled it into a pin of Shaw to end the bout 1:48 into the first period. With the loss, Shaw moved into the 7th place bout, where he took on Benyami Kamali of Olivett - the 5th seed at 125 lbs. Shaw took an early 3-0 lead on a quick takedown to open the first period. But, Kamali grabbed four points off an escape and takedown to take a 4-3 lead going into the second period. Kamali picked up another point off a second period escape and got three points on a nearfall to open the third period. He held off Shaw the rest of the way to take a 10-4 win.
• Mauro Pellot-Vazquez started his day going against RIT's Josh Harkless. Harkless defeated Pellot-Vazquez by 11-1 major decision to send Pellot-Vazquez to the 7th place bout. Pellot-Vazquez then took on North Central's Robby Bates for 7th place. Pellot-Vazquez led 6-2 through the second period following two takedowns. Bates got back within one, 6-5, on a takedown of his own. But, Pellot-Vazquez picked up an insurance point on an escape and held on for the 7-5 win to secure 7th place.

FULL RESULTS

Keito Shaw: 125 lbs. 
Champ. Round 1 - Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 23-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - #2 Christian Guzman (North Central (IL)) 33-0 won by tech fall over Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 23-8 (TF-1.5 5:19 (19-4))
Cons. Round 2 - Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 23-8 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 - Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 24-8 won by tech fall over Tomah Gummow (Ithaca) 35-15 (TF-1.5 3:00 (16-0))
Cons. Round 4 - Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 25-8 won by fall over Isaic Paulino (Roanoke) 21-8 (Fall 5:25)
Consi. Quarters - Brayden Parke (Coe) 27-6 won by fall over Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 25-9 (Fall 1:48)
7th Place Match - Benyamin Kamali (Olivet) 30-4 won by decision over Keito Shaw (Alvernia) 25-10 (Dec 10-4)

Chance Babb: 149 lbs. 
Champ. Round 1 - Chance Babb (Alvernia) 21-7 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - #1 Hayden Brown (JWU (Providence)) 37-1 won by decision over Chance Babb (Alvernia) 21-7 (Dec 6-0
Cons. Round 2 - Evan Lindner (Wash. & Lee) 30-5 won by decision over Chance Babb (Alvernia) 21-8 (Dec 5-2)

Jason Rezac: 157 lbs. 
Champ. Round 1 - Jason Rezac (Alvernia) 19-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - #1 Michael Petrella (Baldwin Wallace) 37-0 won by fall over Jason Rezac (Alvernia) 19-4 (Fall 6:32)
Cons. Round 2 - Casey Smith (Wash. & Jeff.) 21-4 won by major decision over Jason Rezac (Alvernia) 19-5 (MD 17-7)

Matthew Lackman: 165 lbs. 
Champ. Round 1 - Matt Lackman (Alvernia) 35-2 won by decision over Josh Heuss (Wis.-Stevens Point) 29-13 (Dec 4-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Matt Lackman (Alvernia) 35-2 won in sudden victory - 1 over Alex Villar (North Central (IL)) 23-7 (SV-1 4-1)
Quarterfinal - Matt Lackman (Alvernia) 36-2 won by decision over Jake Deguire (Springfield) 30-9 (Dec 4-1)
Semifinal - Matt Lackman (Alvernia) 37-2 won by decision over Andrew Supers (Baldwin Wallace) 40-6 (Dec 2-0)
1st Place Match - Matt Lackman (Alvernia) 38-2 won by decision over Cooper Willis (Augsburg) 30-2 (Dec 6-0)

Nathan Lackman: 174 lbs. 
Champ. Round 1 - Nathan Lackman (Alvernia) 34-2 won by major decision over Cam Hines (Western New Eng.) 26-5 (MD 18-4)
Champ. Round 2 - Nathan Lackman (Alvernia) 35-2 won by injury default over Xavier Preston (Roanoke) 19-8 (Inj. 1:37)
Quarterfinal - Nathan Lackman (Alvernia) 36-2 won by decision over Dejon Glaster (Millikin) 32-3 (Dec 6-5)
Semifinal - Nathan Lackman (Alvernia) 37-2 won by decision over Seth Goetzinger (Augsburg) 25-5 (Dec 4-3)
1st Place Match - Jared Stricker (Wis.-Eau Claire) 43-0 won by decision over Nathan Lackman (Alvernia) 37-3 (Dec 7-1)


Mauro Pellot-Vazquez: 285 lbs. 
Champ. Round 1 - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) 19-1 won by decision over Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 16-4 (Dec 5-1)
Cons. Round 1 - Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 16-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 - Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 17-4 won by major decision over Myles Johnson (Ohio Northern) 39-6 (MD 18-9)
Cons. Round 3 - Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 19-4 won by fall over Nick Franco (SUNY Brockport) 23-7 (Fall 3:10)
Cons. Round 4 - Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 19-4 won by fall over Reid Garrison (Merchant Marine) 27-4 (Fall 1:07)
Consi Quarters - Josh Harkless (RIT) 32-1 won by major decision over Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 20-5 (MD 11-1)
7th Place Match - Mauro Pellot (Alvernia) 20-5 won by decision over Robby Bates (North Central (IL)) 27-7 (Dec 7-5)