Great bouts for Agon V “Iowa vs. The World,” April 3 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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by Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
Agon V, Iowa vs. The World, promotional video
Agon V, a professional card of five fantastic wrestling matches plus an undercard of amateur bouts, will be held on Friday, April 3 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Billed as “Iowa vs. the World,” there will be five former college stars from the University of Iowa who are taking on popular and talented opponents competing with modified wrestling rules. It is being promoted by Agon, in partnership with the Global Wrestling Championships.
“It will be a tremendous success,” said Randy Turturice, one of the Agon promoters. “I hope, more than anything, no matter what the next step is in the development a pro level for wrestling, we’d like to show the validity of the sport on the professional level.”
The Main Event will feature Iowa’s two-time NCAA champion and three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf who is facing one of the top young stars in the world, 18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico. Both are currently pursuing a spot at the same weight class on the 2016 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team.
Metcalf is currently ranked No. 1 in the USA and is ranked No. 8 in the worlds, with a silver at the Yarygin International and a bronze at the Grand Prix of Paris.
Pico, with a No. 3 U.S. ranking and a No. 14 world ranking, is winning numerous Senior medals, including golds at the Cerro Pelado in Cuba and the Henri Deglane Challenge in France. Pico was a 2013 Cadet World champion and a 2014 Junior World silver medalist.
The Co-Main Event is one that is capturing the attention of a wider sports audience. Tony Ramos, an NCAA champion for Iowa and 2014 U.S. World Team member, is taking on 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo, who is currently an undefeated MMA star with the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
Cejudo is coming into this match just days after his March 14 fight at UFC 185 in Dallas, where he beat Chris Cariaso in a flyweight fight. The last time Cejudo wrestled was at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, held in Iowa City, Iowa, where he lost in the semifinals of the Challenge Tournament at 55 kg to Nick Simmons, 0-3, 9-5, 2-5, and took off his shoes and retired.
In his first full year wrestling Senior freestyle, Ramos has been very active. He won a gold medal at the Grand Prix of Paris, and competed in the Freestyle Clubs Cup in Iran and the Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. He also won a belt in the Global Wrestling Championships earlier this season with a win over Sam Hazewinkel.
Another very popular Hawkeye star, two-time NCAA champion Matt McDonough, will battle another past NCAA champion, Angel Escobedo, who won his title for Indiana. Escobedo was fifth at the 2013 World Championships. McDonough placed third in the 2014 World Team Trials, to secure a spot on the freestyle national team. Both are aiming for a spot on the 2016 Olympic Team at 57 kg. There is some local rivalry as well, since Escobedo has joined the coaching staff at in-state rival Iowa State.
In a rematch of the 2013 NCAA finals at 157 pounds, Iowa national champion Derek St. John will battle national runner-up Jason Welch of Northwestern. St. John won their NCAA battle 3-2. Both are currently competing in freestyle wrestling at 70 kg.
The other professional bout pits pas Iowa All-American Phillip Keddy against Deron Winn, two athletes seeking a spot on the Olympic team at 86 kg. Keddy has been very successful competing at international events, while Winn, who recently dropped to this class, has shown improved results. This has in-state rivalry going as well, since Keddy still trains in Iowa and Winn is training at Iowa State.
Clearly, the Iowa-based wrestlers are hoping for a strong showing of Hawkeye fans, who have the highest attendance of any college in the nation for wrestling by far. Tony Ramos tweeted just tweeted this: “Hawkeye fans, the wrestling community is giving you another chance to show why you are the best fans!”
The event has an undercard of amateur matches, something which is common with many MMA promotions. There are some intriguing matchups for high school wrestling fans.
Iowa signee Mike Kemerer, a Pennsylvania state champion, will take on Iowa three-time Iowa state champion Fredy Stroker, who has signed with Minnesota.
Two tough lightweights will be showcased, as two-time California champion Justin Mejia battles Illinois state champion Austin Gomez, a 2014 Cadet National champion in both style and 2013 FILA Cadet World Team member. Mejia has announced his intention to attend the University of Iowa, even though he is just a sophomore.
Turturice compares wrestling with other sports, and believes it has what it takes to have a successful professional level. He uses lacrosse as an example.
“Look at lacrosse. They have a professional level. The sport is growing, and as it grows, the pro franchises will grow as well. Wrestling has 10-times the participants as lacrosse, and it has 100-times the history. The human stories are out there and it has a connection to MMA. The stories of our wrestlers need to be told. Look at Henry Cejudo. He is an American success story. What better way to do that than to showcase the sport as entertainment. I want people who leave the arena (at Agon V) to say that it was a hell of a show, that it showcased Iowa wrestling and that they had a great time,” said Turturice.
AGON V
At Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 3
Professional Card
MAIN EVENT - Brent Metcalf vs. Aaron Pico
CO-MAIN EVENT - Tony Ramos vs. Henry Cejudo
Matt McDonough vs. Angel Escobedo
Derek St. John vs. Jason Welch
Phillip Keddy vs. Deron Winn
Amateur Card
Fredy Stroker (IA) vs. Mike Kemerer (PA)
Justin Mejia (CA) vs. Austin Gomez (IL)
What: Agon Wrestling: Iowa vs. The World
When: April 3, 2015 @ 7:30pm
Where: U.S. Cellular Center Arena, 370 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Tickets: Adults:$16, $22, $28, $38, $49,$62, $79, $115*
All ages require a paid ticket
Group Discounts for 15+: $4 off $28, $22 and $16 price levels only
U.S. Cellular Center Box Office Hours: Monday- Friday 10am-6pm
Box Office Phone: 319-362-1729
To Order Tickets by Phone: 1-800-745-3000
U.S. Cellular Center website for Agon V tickets
Agon V, a professional card of five fantastic wrestling matches plus an undercard of amateur bouts, will be held on Friday, April 3 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Billed as “Iowa vs. the World,” there will be five former college stars from the University of Iowa who are taking on popular and talented opponents competing with modified wrestling rules. It is being promoted by Agon, in partnership with the Global Wrestling Championships.
“It will be a tremendous success,” said Randy Turturice, one of the Agon promoters. “I hope, more than anything, no matter what the next step is in the development a pro level for wrestling, we’d like to show the validity of the sport on the professional level.”
The Main Event will feature Iowa’s two-time NCAA champion and three-time World Team member Brent Metcalf who is facing one of the top young stars in the world, 18-year-old phenom Aaron Pico. Both are currently pursuing a spot at the same weight class on the 2016 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team.
Metcalf is currently ranked No. 1 in the USA and is ranked No. 8 in the worlds, with a silver at the Yarygin International and a bronze at the Grand Prix of Paris.
Pico, with a No. 3 U.S. ranking and a No. 14 world ranking, is winning numerous Senior medals, including golds at the Cerro Pelado in Cuba and the Henri Deglane Challenge in France. Pico was a 2013 Cadet World champion and a 2014 Junior World silver medalist.
The Co-Main Event is one that is capturing the attention of a wider sports audience. Tony Ramos, an NCAA champion for Iowa and 2014 U.S. World Team member, is taking on 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo, who is currently an undefeated MMA star with the Ultimate Fighting Championships.
Cejudo is coming into this match just days after his March 14 fight at UFC 185 in Dallas, where he beat Chris Cariaso in a flyweight fight. The last time Cejudo wrestled was at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, held in Iowa City, Iowa, where he lost in the semifinals of the Challenge Tournament at 55 kg to Nick Simmons, 0-3, 9-5, 2-5, and took off his shoes and retired.
In his first full year wrestling Senior freestyle, Ramos has been very active. He won a gold medal at the Grand Prix of Paris, and competed in the Freestyle Clubs Cup in Iran and the Yarygin Grand Prix in Russia. He also won a belt in the Global Wrestling Championships earlier this season with a win over Sam Hazewinkel.
Another very popular Hawkeye star, two-time NCAA champion Matt McDonough, will battle another past NCAA champion, Angel Escobedo, who won his title for Indiana. Escobedo was fifth at the 2013 World Championships. McDonough placed third in the 2014 World Team Trials, to secure a spot on the freestyle national team. Both are aiming for a spot on the 2016 Olympic Team at 57 kg. There is some local rivalry as well, since Escobedo has joined the coaching staff at in-state rival Iowa State.
In a rematch of the 2013 NCAA finals at 157 pounds, Iowa national champion Derek St. John will battle national runner-up Jason Welch of Northwestern. St. John won their NCAA battle 3-2. Both are currently competing in freestyle wrestling at 70 kg.
The other professional bout pits pas Iowa All-American Phillip Keddy against Deron Winn, two athletes seeking a spot on the Olympic team at 86 kg. Keddy has been very successful competing at international events, while Winn, who recently dropped to this class, has shown improved results. This has in-state rivalry going as well, since Keddy still trains in Iowa and Winn is training at Iowa State.
Clearly, the Iowa-based wrestlers are hoping for a strong showing of Hawkeye fans, who have the highest attendance of any college in the nation for wrestling by far. Tony Ramos tweeted just tweeted this: “Hawkeye fans, the wrestling community is giving you another chance to show why you are the best fans!”
The event has an undercard of amateur matches, something which is common with many MMA promotions. There are some intriguing matchups for high school wrestling fans.
Iowa signee Mike Kemerer, a Pennsylvania state champion, will take on Iowa three-time Iowa state champion Fredy Stroker, who has signed with Minnesota.
Two tough lightweights will be showcased, as two-time California champion Justin Mejia battles Illinois state champion Austin Gomez, a 2014 Cadet National champion in both style and 2013 FILA Cadet World Team member. Mejia has announced his intention to attend the University of Iowa, even though he is just a sophomore.
Turturice compares wrestling with other sports, and believes it has what it takes to have a successful professional level. He uses lacrosse as an example.
“Look at lacrosse. They have a professional level. The sport is growing, and as it grows, the pro franchises will grow as well. Wrestling has 10-times the participants as lacrosse, and it has 100-times the history. The human stories are out there and it has a connection to MMA. The stories of our wrestlers need to be told. Look at Henry Cejudo. He is an American success story. What better way to do that than to showcase the sport as entertainment. I want people who leave the arena (at Agon V) to say that it was a hell of a show, that it showcased Iowa wrestling and that they had a great time,” said Turturice.
AGON V
At Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 3
Professional Card
MAIN EVENT - Brent Metcalf vs. Aaron Pico
CO-MAIN EVENT - Tony Ramos vs. Henry Cejudo
Matt McDonough vs. Angel Escobedo
Derek St. John vs. Jason Welch
Phillip Keddy vs. Deron Winn
Amateur Card
Fredy Stroker (IA) vs. Mike Kemerer (PA)
Justin Mejia (CA) vs. Austin Gomez (IL)
What: Agon Wrestling: Iowa vs. The World
When: April 3, 2015 @ 7:30pm
Where: U.S. Cellular Center Arena, 370 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Tickets: Adults:$16, $22, $28, $38, $49,$62, $79, $115*
All ages require a paid ticket
Group Discounts for 15+: $4 off $28, $22 and $16 price levels only
U.S. Cellular Center Box Office Hours: Monday- Friday 10am-6pm
Box Office Phone: 319-362-1729
To Order Tickets by Phone: 1-800-745-3000
U.S. Cellular Center website for Agon V tickets
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