NWCA Ranks Alvernia Men's Wrestling Team and Four Student-Athletes

Alvernia University Men's Wrestling placed four wrestlers in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason rankings, and Alvernia was ranked 10th in the country in the preseason tournament rankings to open up the season.

Alvernia was ranked 10th out of the 25 teams ranked in the preseason top-25 from the NWCA. Alvernia also placed three individuals in the preseason top-15. Keito Shaw was ranked #14 at 125 lbs, Jason Rezac was #9 at 157 lbs, Matthew Lackman was ranked #2 at 165 lbs, and Nathan Lackman was ranked #2 at 174 lbs.

Shaw, a senior, finished last season just narrowly missing out on a trip to the NCAA Division III National Championship after finishing in fifth at the Southeast Regional. Shaw finished his junior season with an overall record of 24-10 and had nine technical falls and seven major decisions on the year.

Rezac, a senior, qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championship last season after taking second at the Southeast Regional. Rezac went 20-8 last season and finished the year with 13 wins by fall. Last year marked the third straight season that Rezac finished with at least 20 wins and nine pins.

Matthew Lackman, a graduate student, finished in third at the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship at 165 lbs and was the National Runner-Up at the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship. Lackman, the reigning MAC Wrestler of the Year, finished 2023-24 with an overall record of 45-1, and he is 93-2 over the last two seasons. Matthew Lackman is a two-time All-American at 165 lbs.

Nathan Lackman, a graduate transfer from Rhode Island College, last wrestled in the 2022-23 season. He defeated his brother, Matthew, in the 165 lb Division III National Championship bout to earn his second consecutive national title before taking a year off. Nathan defeated Matthew with a takedown 50 seconds into overtime. In 2021-22, Nathan Lackman was the national champion at 157 lbs. Nathan was 39-3 his last season out, but was not defeated by a Division III opponent, and has not been defeated by a Division III opponent since 2021.

As a team, Alvernia placed in the top four of each of its four regular-season tournaments. Alvernia took ninth at the NCAA Division III regional.

The team started the 2024-25 season with a 40-10 win over Camden County College on Nov. 1 and had three first-place finishers, including Keito Shaw at 125 lbs, Matthew Lackman at 165 lbs and Nathan Lackman at 174 lbs, to lead Alvernia to a third-place team finish on Nov. 2 at the 11-team Tonee Ellis Memorial Invitational at Alvernia's PLEX. Alvernia is back in action at Scranton's Electric City Duals on Saturday, November 9th.

To view these students click here: https://alvernia.meritpages.com/achievements/NWCA-Ranks-Alvernia-Men-s-Wrestling-Team-and-Four-Student-Athletes/182316