PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The JWU (Providence) wrestling program won the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship Saturday night at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.
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Results
Behind wins from seniors
Joziah Fry (Coventry, R.I.) and
Hayden Brown (Exeter, N.H.) at the 125 lb. and 149 lb. weight classes, respectively, the Wildcats gave longtime head coach
Lonnie Morris his first national championship in his 27th season at the helm of the program. The Wildcats previously finished third in 2019 and fourth in 2024.
Fry captured his third-straight national championship and closes his collegiate career with an incredible 121-1 record – including a 42-0 record this season. Fry took down No. 4 seed Mason Barrett (Averett) in the semifinals early today and wrapped up the championship for JWU in the final match of the night with an 10-5 win over No. 2 seed Christian Guzman of North Central (IL).
Brown, meanwhile, captured his first national championship by defeating No. 2 seed Angelo Centrone (Cortland) by a 5-0 decision, capitalizing on an escape in the first period before securing a takedown in the second. Brown – who garnered All-America honors for the third time in his career on Friday – opened today by defeating No. 4 seed Matt Randolph (Augsburg) by an 8-1 decision. He closes his season with a 41-1 record.
In the morning session, senior
Dylan Harr locked up his third All-America honor with his second win over Ian Pepple (Wis.-Eau Claire) in as many days, this one coming via 13-3 major decision. The Mohnton, Pa. native was awarded the Most Falls Award for his three pins in the tournament and finishes 2024-25 with a 21-5 record.
Junior
Adolfo Betancur (Coventry, R.I.) went 1-2 to finish the event 5-3 overall and in sixth place to earn his first All-America nod. His season ends with a 29-10 record.
The Wildcats finished with 83.5 points, which placed them in a tie with Wartburg. The JWU victory marked the first time since 1994 that someone other Wartburg or Augsburg did not capture the national championship. The last time two programs shared a wrestling national championship at any level of NCAA competition was back in 1933 when Oklahoma State and Iowa State sat atop the leaderboard.
Complete NCAA Division III Wrestling Results:
Joziah Fry (125 lbs.): 3-0 record
- Friday
- Def. Kaden Majcher (Lycoming) via tech fall (19-3) in 5:21
- Def. Quintin Wollert (Wis. La Crosse) via major decision (21-7)
- Saturday
- Def. No. 4 Mason Barrett (Alvernia) via major decision (11-3)
- Def. No. 2 Christian Guzman (North Central (IL)) via decision (10-5)
Peyton Ellis (133 lbs.): 2-2 record
- Friday
- Def. Jacob Venezia (NYU) via fall in :49 seconds
- Def. Aidan Evans (Loras) via decision (9-5)
- Defeated by No. 7 Bryce Parke (Coe) via fall (4:11)
- Defeated by No. 5 Jaden Hinton via decision (9-6)
Jake Eckerle (141 lbs.): 2-2 record
- Friday
- Defeated by Dylan Phelps (Olivet) via decision (4-3)
- Def. Jalen Schropp (Loas) via major decision (16-5)
- Def. No. 2 Jacob Reed (Ohio Northern) via decision (9-5)
- Defeated by Ty Bisek (Concordia-Moorehead) via major decision (14-3)
Hayden Brown (149 lbs.): 5-0 record
- Friday
- Def. Chase Fisher (Loras) via major decision (11-2)
- Def. Chance Babb (Alvernia) via decision (6-0)
- Def. Tyler Herrera (Olivet) via fall (3:11)
- Saturday
- Def. No. 4 Matt Randolph (Augsburg) via decision (8-1)
- Def. Angelo Centore (Cortland) via decision (5-0)
Jack Richardson (165 lbs.): 2-2 record
- Friday
- Def. Carson Martinson (Central) via decision (7-2)
- Def. Kaiden Wagner (Lycoming) via major decision (15-6)
- Defeated by No. 3 Cooper Willis (Augsburg) via decision (4-0)
- Defeated by No. 2 Tanner Gerber (Wis.-La Crosse) via decision (12-10)
Dylan Harr (197 lbs.): 4-2 record
- Friday
- Def. Ian Pepple (Wis.-Eau Claire) via fall (1:37)
- Defeated by No. 2 Cameron Butka (Wilkes) via decision (8-1)
- Def. Blaise Wagner (Stevens) via fall (2:09)
- Saturday
- Defeated No. 3 seed Ben Kawczynski (Wis.-La Crosse) via fall (1:43)
- Defeated by No. 5 Charles Baczak (Wabash) via major decision major decision (12-0)
- Def. Ian Pepple (Wis.-Eau Claire) via major decision (13-3)
Adolfo Betancur (285 lbs.): 5-3 record
- Friday
- Def. Cam'ron Harper (Aurora) via decision (6-0)
- Defeated by No. 2 Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) via decision (5-0)
- Def. Christian McChesney (William & Jefferson) via fall (3:19)
- Def. Evan Day (VTSU Castleton) via decision (7-0)
- Def. No. 4 Walter West (Lutheran) via decision (4-2)
- Saturday
- Def. Robby Bates (North Central (IL)) via decision (4-0)
- Defeated by No. 2 Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) via decision (4-1)
- Defeated by Austin Cooley (Schreiner) via fall (2:05)