CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The New Jersey City University men's wrestling team officially wrapped up its historic 2021-22 campaign after junior Jeff Johnson (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) fell twice today, Friday, March 11, in the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships held at the prestigious Alliant Energy Powerhouse.

The 157-pound grappler became the first-ever NJCU wrestler to make it to NCAAs to compete for an opportunity for a National Championship and All-American status after placing third at the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships, which were hosted in Elizabethtown, Pa., at the end of February.

To begin his quest for a national recognition, Johnson had to face arguably his toughest opponent of the year, nationally ranked #3 Nathan Lackman of Rhode Island College in the preliminary round. Lackman entered the tournament with a spotless 32-0 record during the regular season, including winning the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional 157-pound title. Johnson battled early, but it wasn't enough as Lachman ultimately defeated the NJCU star by a 10-0 major decision. This defeat pushed the Jersey native into the consolation bracket, needing a victory to keep his hopes for All-American status alive.

Coming out hungry to keep his season intact, the 157-pounder took on Trent Furman of New York University. Furman entered this match with a record of 27-7 this season, including a second-place finish at the Northeast Regional, behind only Lackman. After falling 5-0 early in the bout, the Gothic Knight didn't go away easily even though he was fighting through injuries. Leaving it all on the mat in the third period, Johnson captured an escape and takedown points to trim his defecit to just one at 5-4. But a takedown late by Lackman sealed the victory for the NYU grappler by 7-4 decision, ending this year's quest for National honors for Johnson and the NJCU wrestling program.

Johnson completed his stellar junior campaign by posting a record of 17-8 overall, including a 15-6 mark at 157 pounds and an overall record of 16-4 during his previous 20 matches, which included a stretch of 10 straight victories. He finishes his season as the #4-ranked 157-pounder in the most recent National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Mideast Regional Rankings, and just like the rest of his Green and Gold teammates, will return to the mat in 2022-23 looking to build on a successful year.

Looking back, this season will be remembered as the year that head coach Harry Turner and his squad put themselves on not just the New Jersey wrestling map, but the entire country. 

Highlights from 2021-22 (first full season in program history):

• First-ever NCAA qualifier in program history
• Team competed in program's first-ever NCAA Regional Championships
• Four placement winners at Mideast Regionals
  • Johnson, third place-157
  • Freshman Damienlee Torres (West Orange, N.J./West Orange), seventh-125
  • Freshman Andre Ruiz (Little Ferry, N.J./Ridgefield Park), sixth-133
  • Junior Matthew Armamento (Kenilworth, N.J./Roselle Park), eighth-165 pounds
• Finished 12th out of 25 teams at the Mideast Regionals
• Wrestled three Division I programs
• Wrestled four Top-25 ranked programs
• Recorded the first four dual match victories in program history, including the first-ever at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC)