Three Dutch in individual wrestling rankings
PELLA — In the first National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III rankings of the season, a trio of Central College wrestlers were listed in the top-10 at their weight class.
Junior Rob Areyano (Selma, Calif.) is No. 8 at 149 pounds and Shandon Akeo (senior, Honolulu, Hawaii/Kapolei HS) and Griffen McBride (senior, Pleasantville) are No. 9 at 133 and 184 pounds, respectively. Central is not included in the team poll.
An All-American and NCAA qualifier last season, Areyano finished the year with a 23-2 mark. He had 13 victories by fall and seven other bonus-point victories. The team’s Most Valuable Performer in 2019-20, Areyano is a two-time all-conference performer.
Akeo finished 21-8 in his first season at Central after transferring into the program. An all-conference performer, he was the league’s male athlete of the week on December 9 after winning the MSOE Invitational.
McBride went 21-9 splitting time between 174 and 184 pounds last season. He was an all-conference performer and finished in the top-four at four different tournaments in 2019-20.
Central will begin the shortened 2021 season next Saturday in a home triangular against Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Dubuque. Matches start at 1 p.m. in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse
