PELLA — Junior 197-pounder Gage Linahon (Newton) became the first Central College wrestler in program history to earn Academic All-America® accolades from College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) on Wednesday.

Wrestling does not have its own CSC Academic All-America® team, but Linahon was chosen for the second team in the Men's At-Large program alongside athletes from men's volleyball, lacrosse, wrestling, ice hockey, skiing, golfing and fencing.

To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve at the varsity level and achieve a 3.50 or better cumulative grade point average. Being selected for the Academic All-District team is also a prerequisite.
           
An accounting major witha 3.99 GPA, Linahon finished the season 23-8 at 197 pounds and placed second at the Lower Midwest Regional. His placement in the regional earned him a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division III Championships.
           
While he is the first in program history, he is the 67th Central athlete to make a CSC Academic All-America® team.