In the latest National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III rankings and the D3wrestle.com polls, the Central College wrestling team was heavily featured in both.

In the NWCA’s second dual team rankings, Central came in at #14 and in their tournament team rankings, Central is ranked 24th. The tournament team rankings are compiled based on the points awarded for each individual wrestler in the rankings. Individually in the NWCA poll, Shandon Akeo remained ranked at #3 at 125 pounds and Rob Areyano moved up to #10 at 149 pounds. The D3wrestle.com poll ranks Akeo at #1 and Areyano at #6. 

Akeo is 10-0 on the season, winning five times by fall and earning a bracket title at the Pointer Open in November. Areyano is 13-2 on the season, winning eight times by fall, and has won 10 straight matches, including a win over the No. 1 wrestler in the NJCAA for the tournament title at the Central Under Armour Invitational.

As a team, Central is 6-3, with all three losses coming against schools ranked in the top-10 nationally at the time of the match. The Dutch face Buena Vista University, the University of Dubuque and Wartburg College Saturday at the American Rivers Conference duals in Dubuque at 10 a.m.

 

The Central College women’s basketball team will return to play on Saturday January 22nd after having three games postponed due to health and safety protocols. The Dutch will host the University of Dubuque in a women’s-men’s conference doubleheader on Saturday, with tip-off at 2 p.m. Central’s game that was scheduled for December 1st with Nebraska Wesleyan University is now set to be played on Monday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m.