Mustangs' Akui leaning toward one sport

Updated: March 23, 2011 9:48AM

With the first wave of conference meets just a week away, another wrestling season is heading into the home stretch.

It's been a relatively low-key year for Jahwon Akui - or at least as much as that's possible for a defending state champ who's also one of the nation's more sought-after recruits, as either a wrestler, football player, or both.

That's how it is for Akui, the St. Rita senior who's had less of a roller-coaster ride this school year than last. Then, he generated major buzz during a football season that produced no fewer than three five-touchdown games as the Mustangs' featured running back.

That season also was punctuated by multiple injuries that kept him from making his wrestling season debut till January. The lack of mat time didn't matter. Akui rolled to a 24-1 record and the Class 3A 171-pound title.

"He's a competitor," St. Rita coach Dan Manzella said, "whether he has one match under his belt or 30."

This football season was different from last for Akui, with opposing defenses stacking the box in a determined attempt to slow down both him and the St. Rita offense.

It worked, to a degree. Akui's numbers were down (1,642 yards and 22 TDs vs. 1,829 and 31 scores in 2009), though the attention paid to him opened a window of opportunity for backfield mate Travis Starks. And the Mustangs had a productive season, winning a share of the Catholic League Blue and reaching the Class 7A semifinals.

Plus, there was the added advantage of playing injury- and pain-free. That was a much better lead-in for wrestling than last year.

It hasn't been the easiest of seasons for the Mustangs wrestlers, who are without four injured starters. But Akui has been a rock, going 15-0 and holding Illinois Best Weekly's No. 1 ranking in Class 3A from Day 1.

He knows there are younger wrestlers in the St. Rita wrestling room looking up to him and he doesn't want to set a bad example.

"Sometimes I think about it, going into a hard practice - wrestling is a lot harder than football practice," he said. "You think, ‘Do you want to do this?' "

The answer is always an unequivocal "yes."

"I'm kind of self-motivated," Akui said. "I like to win and put in the work and be successful."

Manzella will vouch for that.

"He's taken ownership of the program this year," Manzella said. "He knows he's the big name, the marquee guy. He feeds off that. He pushes these younger guys. He lets them know how it is to compete on the big stage. He calms them down."

Akui's next big stage apparently will be a mat rather than a gridiron.

"I'm kind of leaning toward wrestling (in college)," he said. "I think I've got a better chance of wrestling at the next level than playing football."

That's not a reflection on his football skill set, but an acknowledgement that it's hard to interest major-college recruiters in a running back who was generously listed at 5-foot-7.

Height isn't as much of an issue for college wrestling coaches, who can appreciate Akui's resume: a 114-5 career record at St. Rita, two state medals and a pair of Cadet National championships in 2008.

Some of the nation's top programs, including Arizona State and Illinois, are among those pursuing Akui. He's planning an official visit to the Sun Devils' campus soon after the high school season ends.

Manzella believes his star has what it takes to succeed in college, especially since he'll be able to focus on wrestling and his body won't be taking the pounding that comes with being a lead back in the Catholic Blue.

"I think it'll be very beneficial to him, being able to concentrate on one sport," Manzella said. "A guy like him, who is really a sponge - he takes in everything we show him like he's been doing it his whole life."

That's because a taste of success has made Akui hungry for more.

"It drives me," he said. "Getting to the top was pretty tough. Staying at the top is even harder."

But he continues to make it look easy.

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