Central wrestling team at No. 13 in final dual rankings
PELLA — The National Wrestling Coaches Association released its fourth and final NCAA Division III Dual Team Rankings Saturday afternoon and the Central College wrestling team is at No. 13 heading into the regional championship meets this weekend.
Central is 12-4 on the season, including a 5-3 mark in the American Rivers Conference. The four teams to beat Central are all in the top 10: No. 1 Wartburg College, No. 2 Loras College, No. 3 Coe College and No. 9 Johnson & Wales University (R.I.).
In the individual rankings released last Friday, Shandon Akeo (fifth year, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapolei HS) was No. 7 at 125 pounds, Rob Areyano (senior, 149 pounds, Selma, Calif.) as No. 10 at 149 pounds and Samuel Zook (senior, Oak Harbor, Wash.) was No. 14 at 285 pounds.
Central travels to Dubuque for the NCAA Division III Lower Midwest Regional meet next Friday and Saturday. The top-three finishers in each weight class advance to the NCAA Division III Championships in Cedar Rapids March 12-13. Central will be one of six teams ranked in the top 15 at the Lower Midwest Regional. Wartburg, Loras, Coe, No. 8 North Central College (Ill.) and No. 12 Millikin University (Ill.) will also be competing.
