A trio of names that have already cemented their names in Matoaca athletics lore recently carved out some big time accomplishments at the college level – Neal Richards (VMI), Austin Akins (Coker) and Blake Roulo (George Mason).
Richards has made an early mark on VMI’s program after winning four straight state championships in high school. After a third place finish in the Southern Conference 157 pound weight class, he earned a berth to the NCAA tournament at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Roulo, a senior at George Mason finished fourth in the 149-pound weight class at the Eastern Wrestling League Championships. He dropped a 2-1 decision to the eventual champion, Daniel Neff. On his way to that finish, he scored a couple of big time victories with a 16-4 win.
Akins, a heavyweight at 285 pounds, also qualified for the NCAA tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for Coker College, a Division II school. The redshirt senior tripped up in the second day of the region tournament, losing early but went 5-2 on the day to finish fourth and earn a trip to the national tournament. Akins started his college career at the prestigious Columbia University before transferring prior to the 2013-2014 season.
