Lehigh wrestler Darian Cruz received an official hero's welcome in his hometown of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday after winning last month's NCAA championship at 125 pounds.

The Bethlehem City Council and Mayor Bob Donchez presented Cruz with a proclamation that declared the date "Darian Cruz Day." 

@toicruz23 #dariancruzday pic.twitter.com/8c3qsLkEAk

— Heather Cruz (@heatherbcruz) April 5, 2017

A local product of Bethlehem Catholic High School, Cruz is Lehigh's 28th NCAA national champion. On his way to his 125-pound title, Cruz became a two-time All-American as well, having finished seventh in the 2014 season as a true freshman. Cruz, a redshirt junior, can also claim two EIWA titles to his name.

The city of Bethlehem's proclamation also included an interesting detail pertaining to Cruz's inventive scrambling in his finals match against Minnesota's Ethan Lizak. Cruz scored the critical go-ahead points late in the third period using an "untested" technique he dubbed the "Randy Cruz Roll-Though" in honor of his older brother and fellow Mountain Hawk All-American. Our own Mike Malinconico breaks down the move in his most recent edition of "Behind the Dirt."

Cruz returns to Lehigh next year to compete in his final year of eligibility. He expects to graduate in May with an English degree and plans on taking graduate classes at Lehigh during the 2017-18 season.