JWU Wrestling Wins First National Championship in Providence

The JWU (Providence) wrestling program won the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship Saturday night at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

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 first time in his career on Friday – open 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 12-5 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 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 Bryce Parke (Coe) via fall (4:11)
Defeated by No. 5 Jaden Hinton via decision (9-6)
Jake Eckerle (141 lbs.): 1-2 record
Friday
Defeated by Dylan Phelps (Olivet) via decision (4-3)
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.): 4-0 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 (9-6)
Dylan Harr (197 lbs.): 3-2 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 by vs No. 3 seed Ben Kawczynski (Wis.-La Crosse) by 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. vs Robby Bates (North Central (IL)) via decision (4-0)
Defeated by Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) via decision (4-1)
Defeated by Austin Cooley (Schreiner) via fall (2:05)