PROVIDENCE, R.I.  -  Chase Randall (Spokane, Wash.) became the first Coast Guard wrestler to win back-to-back championships in today's finale to the 2025 Division III Wrestling National Championships. Teammate Carl DiGiorgio (Doylestown, Pa.) finished as runner-up in the 285-pound division, his highest placement at nationals up to this point in his career.

Randall was the first Bear to go to battle in the day, defeating 4-seed Dominik Mallinder (Roselle, Ill.) of Wisconsin-Whitewater in a 7-2 semifinal bout. He matched-up against Coe's Bryce Parke (Marion, Iowa), who earned his spot in the championship with his narrow 8-7 victory over Garrett Totten (Allentown, N.J.) from The College of New Jersey. The bout led off the evening session and Randall took an 9-2 lead in the first period thanks to three takedowns. After another takedown in the second, the senior led 12-3 entering the third period.

Parke made his move with 1:33 left, flipping Randall into position for a pin, but the reigning champ escaped for the near fall. "I knew he was legit, and he had some funky stuff," Randall reflected in a post-match interview. "But I was confident in myself. When I went out there, I knew it was time to let go." The senior regained control and secured his back-to-back champion status with a 16-8 victory.

"It feels more real. It's insane to be the favorite and have respect for my name. It was cool to be the one to beat instead of the one pulling off the upset," says Randall. "And to do it in front of people from the Academy, my family, friends and my sponsor parents. My roommate had my name on his shirt. It was really cool to have fans so close bye and to see people cheering for me."

DiGiorgio's day started against Schreiner's Austin Cooley (Allen, Tex.), whom he outlasted in a 4-2 victory despite a third period comeback attempt. Awaiting DiGiorgio in the evening final was six-seed Mitch Williamson (River Falls, Wisc.) of national powerhouse Wartburg. Williamson secured his advancement from semis with a 2-1 decision over Ferrum's Rayshawn Dixon (Fayetteville, N.C.). DiGiorgio took the lead in period two after escaping a hold, but Williamson tied it up in the third the same way. The bout seemed to be heading for overtime, but Knights' heavyweight was able to produce a takedown of DiGiorgio in the waning seconds to steal a 4-1 victory and the national title.

Williamson's win was the tipping point that allowed Wartburg to tie with hosts Johnson & Wales as team champions of the event. Coast Guard finished tied for ninth overall with Wisconsin-Eu Claire at 40.5 points.