CEDAR RAPIDS—After going 2-0 on the opening day of the NCAA Division III Championships Friday, Central College wrestler Shandon Akeo (fifth year, 125 pounds, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kapolei HS) will wrestle for a spot in the national title match.

Through Friday's second session, Central is tied for 22nd in the team standings with 12 points. Wartburg College leads the team standings with 58 points.

Akeo was dominant from start to finish in his first-round bout against Joey Lamparelli (Muhlenberg College [Pa.]), registering a technical fall 17-2 (6:44). He needed overtime in his quarterfinal match to take an 8-6 win over No. 6 Nicholas Arborio of Western New England University (Mass.).

"It's a testament to who he is and the work he has put in," coach Eric Van Kley said. "We were familiar with the Muhlenberg guy after wrestling him in November and Shandon really his offense going. That same offense was what won him an extremely hard-fought quarterfinal match against one of the best kids in the country."

Akeo will face the No. 7 seed Carlos Champagne of Wabash College (Ind.) in the semifinals on Saturday morning. He's already secured All-American accolades.
           
"I couldn't be anymore proud to have him be an All-American," Van Kley said "We're going to be looking for more tomorrow."

After dropping his opener 5-2 against the University of Chicago's Ryan Flack, Rob Areyano (senior, 149 pounds, Selma, Calif.) roared back to pin No. 4 Tony Ulaszek (United States Coast Guard Academy [Ct.]) in 3:51. He was eliminated in a 3-1 defeat against No. 6 North Central College's Alex Villar.
           
"Rob is a stud," Van Kley said. "He did not have his best effort in the first match. I couldn't be any more proud of the effort he gave us tonight with a pin and tough match that could have gone either way. I'm very proud of how far he has come and the year he put together."
 
Gage Linahon (sophomore, Newton) lost both of his matches in the preliminary round section of the 18-man bracket. He fell 7-5 in overtime against Camden Farrow (York College [Pa.]) in his first match before getting pinned at 2:47 against Josh Harkless of Rochester Institute of Technology (N.Y.) in his second match.
           
"Gage wrestled three matches as a freshman," Van Kley said. "He made the national tournament a year later. He battled today and has a very bright future."
Akeo will be on the mat at 10 a.m. for the 125-pound semifinal.