2023 -- H 6174

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING JOZIAH FRY OF JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY AND

NATHAN LACKMAN OF RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE ON WINNING THE NCAA

DIVISION III WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

     Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Hull, Noret,
Chippendale, O'Brien, Kennedy, Edwards, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: March 21, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Joziah Fry, a native of Coventry, was a three-time Rhode Island High

School State Champion and a four-time finalist. As a freshman on the Johnson & Wales

University Wrestling Team, he has been one of the most dominant NCAA student-athletes in

recent years. He finished the regular season competition undefeated, and entered the Division III

NCAA Tournament as the favorite and the number one seed; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Fry began the Tournament in dominating fashion as he quickly pinned

his opponent in the opening round. His second-round match against Brady Koontz of Dubuque

was a struggle to the finish before Joziah prevailed by the score of 3 to 2; and

     WHEREAS, In the semi-finals, Mr. Fry once again got off to a quick start as he

vanquished the fourth seed in a 21 to 3 tech-fall victory to set up a national title match against the

defending champion and number two seed, Jacob Decater, representing Baldwin-Wallace

University. In a very competitive, back-and-forth match, Joziah Fry used his tenacity, strength,

quickness and amazing skills to secure a 4 to 2 victory and the NCAA Division III National

Championship at the 125-pound weight; and

     WHEREAS, Nathan Lackman from Wernersville, Pennsylvania, is a distinguished Rhode

Island College wrestler. He earned All-Region wresting honors as a freshman, was a National

Wrestling Association Coaches (NWCA) Scholar All-American as a sophomore, and was the

NCAA Division III Wrestling Champion at 157 pounds as a junior; and

     WHEREAS, Nathan Lackman moved up in weight to the 165 pound weight class for his

senior year and after a dominant season, he entered the NCAA Championship seeded first. In the

first three rounds of the tournament, Mr. Lackman easily dispatched his opponents, winning his

first-round match by the score of 8-0, his second round match by the score of 8-2, and beat fifth

seeded Nicolas Sacco in the semifinals by the score of 7-3; and

     WHEREAS, In the Championship match Nathan Lackman faced his brother, Matt

Lackman, a junior from Alvernia University. In a thrilling back and forth match that went to

overtime, Nathan emerged victorious by the score of 3-1, to win the National Championship;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

congratulates Joziah Fry of Johnson & Wales University and Nathan Lackman of Rhode Island

College on winning the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. We wish them continued

success in all of their future endeavors, in athletics, in the classroom, and in life; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mr. Joziah Fry, and Mr. Nathan Lackman.

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