PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island -- Ferrum College wrestlers Zach Beckner and Rayshawn Dixon wrapped up action at the 2025 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships Friday and Saturday, March 14-15, at Amica Mutual Pavillion. The two senior wrestlers placed fourth at 125 pounds and 285 pounds, to complete stellar careers with the Panther Wrestling program.

TEAM FINISH
Ferrum finished 15th in a field of 74 teams that competed at the NCAA Tournament, totaling 27.5 team points. This is Ferrum's highest ever NCAA Div. III Wrestling Tournament finish.

The #3 seed at 125 pounds, Beckner opened the day with a 13-4 loss to #2 Christian Guzman of North Central College. He bounced back with an 8-5 sudden victory over Brayden Parke of Coe College to reach the third-place match, then lost in a tiebreaker to #4 seed Mason Barrett of Averett University, faling 2-2 on 20 seconds of riding time.

Dixon was the tournament's #2 seed at 285 pounds, and opened the day with a 2-1 semifinal loss to Mitch Williamson of Wartburg College. He then beat Adolfo Betancur 4-1 ro advance to the third-place match. In his final match, Dixon lost 4-2 to #3 Josh Harkless of Rochester Institute of Technology.

Beckner and Dixon both are three-time NCAA qualifiers and two-time All-Americans. Beckner was a qualifier in 2017, making it to the finals and finishing as national runner-up. He then qualified in 2024 and 2025, earning his second All-America finish this season. Dixon first qualified in 2023, then again in 2024, where he placed fifth to earn his first All-America honor. He qualified again this season and placed fourth to grab his second All-America award.

125 RESULTS: Zach Beckner
Champ. Round 2 - Zach Beckner (Ferrum) won by decision over Brett Birchman (Wartburg) (Dec 8-1)
Quarterfinal - Zach Beckner (Ferrum) won by major decision over Jake Craig (Southern Me.) (9-0)
Semifinal - Christian Guzman (North Central) won by major decision over Zach Beckner (Ferrum) (13-4)
Cons. Semi - Zach Beckner (Ferrum) won in sudden victory - 1 over Brayden Parke (Coe) (SV-1 8-5)
3rd Place Match - Mason Barrett (Averett) won in tie breaker - 1 over Zach Beckner (Ferrum) (TB-1 2-2)

285 RESULTS: Rayshawn Dixon
Champ. Round 2 - Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) won by decision over Adolfo Betancur (JWU Providence) (Dec 5-0)
Quarterfinal - Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) won by tech fall over Reid Garrison (Merchant Marine) (TF-1.5 6:26 (19-3))
Semifinal - Mitch Williamson (Wartburg) won by decision over Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) (Dec 2-1)
Cons. Semi - Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) won by decision over Adolfo Betancur (JWU Providence) (Dec 4-1)
3rd Place Match - Josh Harkless (RIT) won by decision over Rayshawn Dixon (Ferrum) (Dec 4-2)

COACHES
Beckner and Dixon were mentored this season by Head Coach Logan Meister and Assistant coaches Levi Englman and Justin Smith. Meister now has six NCAA qualifiers to his credit, including three All-American finishes.