A trio of Central College wrestlers are set to compete at the NCAA Division III Championships today and tomorrow in Cedar Rapids at the US Cellular Center. Central has sent at least three wrestlers to the NCAA Division III Championships five times since 2016. 

Seniors Shandon Akeo and Rob Areyano are joined by Gage Linahon. All three qualified by finishing in the top three at the NCAA Division III Lower Midwest Regional. Akeo won the title at 125 pounds while Areyano was second and Linahon was third.

Akeo comes into the weekend as the #3 seed with an 18-0 record and has amassed 60 takedowns this season. Akeo drew a rematch with Muhlenberg College’s (Pa.) Joey Lamparelli in the first round. Akeo handed Lamparelli a 9-3 loss by decision on November 20. Areyano qualified for a national meet in Cedar Rapids in 2020, which was canceled days before it happened due to COVID-19. Areyano is 20-4 on the year and will get his chance on the mat this weekend as the No. 5 seed. In his first-round match, Areyano will face the winner of a preliminary match between Alex Barr of Wabash College (Ind.) and Ryan Fleck of the University of Chicago (Ill.). A 220-pound wrestler in high school, Linahon spent his freshman year wrestling at 285 pounds. He’s compiled a record of 26-7 this season, earning his first trip to the national meet. Linahon has a preliminary-round match with Camden Farrow of York College (Pa.) to start the day. If he wins, he’ll face No. 3 Coy Spooner of the United States Coast Guard Academy (Ct.).

The first session of wrestling is Friday morning at 11 a.m.