Agon brings wrestling talent to Cedar Rapids

Agon Wrestling Championship Series is coming to Cedar Rapids.

The mission to create a sustainable professional amateur wrestling organization will host its fifth competition since the inaugural event in October 2013.

Former University of Iowa NCAA champions Brent Metcalf and Tony Ramos highlight the card at the U.S. Cellular Center on Friday, April 3, billing it as 'Iowa against the world.”

Metcalf, a current 143-pound U.S. World team member, will take on teenage sensation Aaron Pico, a former Cadet World Champion and Junior Worlds silver medalist.

Ramos, the 125-pound U.S. World team member, will face 2008 Olympic gold medalist and current mixed martial artist Henry Cejudo. Ramos won freestyle gold at an international tournament recently in France.

The event has local flavor as well. Former Hawkeye NCAA champion and four-time All-American Derek St. John will wrestle a familiar foe. He is set to take on former Northwestern national finalist Jason Welch. It is a rematch of the 2013 157-pound NCAA finals in Des Moines that St. John won, 3-2. St. John was a two-time state champion and four-time state medalist for Iowa City West.

Iowa's two-time state champion and three-time Linn-Mar state champion Matt McDonough is expected to compete. His opponent is yet to be determined.

Another former Hawkeye, Phil Keddy, also will wrestle. He is slated to take on Cyclone Wrestling Club's Deron Winn.

Along with former Hawkeyes in the mix, a future Hawkeye is on the docket. Iowa commit Justin Mejia, a sophomore, will face national champion Austin Gomez, of Glenbard North (Ill.) High School.

Tickets start at $16, according to the Agon website.

See an official Agon release:

AGON V: IOWA AGAINST THE WORLD

Cedar Rapids, IA- Iowa wrestling legends Brent Metcalf and Tony Ramos punctuate an impressive collection of athletes where Iowa greats will compete against some of the best competition in the world. It's a generational clash where Brent will be facing Aaron Pico, a teenage professional who has been competing internationally for several years already. Straight off a gold medal showing of his own in France Ramos will be squaring off against Olympic gold medalist and current MMA star Henry Cejudo. The card does not let up as it will include the following pairings:

Matt McDonough facing off against an opponent to be named shortly

Jason Welch vs. Derek St John

Phil Keddy takes on Deron Winn.

As a special treat to wresting fans everywhere the bout also will include pound for pound wrestling stars from PA, OH, MN, CA, IL, and IA. The first of these is sophomore Iowa commit from California Justin Mejia will take on Illinois superstar and double Fargo National Champion Austin Gomez of Glenbard North. We are in discussions for several additional bouts from across the country.

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