What a way to lower the curtain on the NCAA DIII National Tournament!!

For the second time of the night (back-to-back weight classes); it was a student-athlete from a NY based program that came away with a historic brass ring yielding triumph!!

Eighth in 2023 and 3rd a season ago; the wait is over for RIT Big man, Josh Harkless; as from this day forward, he will be known as NATIONAL CHAMPION!!

Going mano-a-mano in the 285-pound main event against top-ranked/reigning National titlist, Mitch Williamson (Wartburg); Harkless would successfully defend this lat drop attempt in the closing moments to earn the defining TD in a 4-1 decision to emphatically cap off the night in Cedar Rapids!

The win over Williamson avenging a loss in the 2025 National semis; by virtue of his vengeance, the Keystone State native snapped a quarter-century-plus title drought for Tigers; as he is the school's first NCAA champ since 1999 when "The Hammer", Matt Hamill, put the finishes touches on a three-peat by winning the crown at 197 pounds!

Seeded 3rd in the bracket this weekend; Harkless would reach the 'ship thanks to a TD + swipes in the last :45 of the 3rd period that turned a 1-1 match into a 6-1 semifinal decision at the expense of #2 ranked/returning 3x All-American (2025 runner-up), Carl Digiorgio (U.S. Coast Guard Academy)!!!

All of the nerve-testing action transpiring on day #2; Harkless was in full cruise control on Friday; as he followed up a 1:41 sticking of Long Islander, #15 Ben Katz (Springfield) in the R16 by registering a 12-2 major decision in the quarters over 13th-ranked Andrew Vanscoy (Baldwin Wallace)!