Metcalf, Askren, Simaz, and Russell dominate at the AGON II Wrestling Championships

METCALF, ASKREN, SIMAZ, AND RUSSELL DOMINATE AT THE AGON II WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Flint, MI) The Agon II Wrestling Championships were a complete success on Sunday despite an ice storm that left half the surrounding community without power.  With MIWAY’s Mat Mayhem Tournament filling the venue full of wrestling fans, it was standing room only around the mat as eight AGON wrestlers went to war in the Perani Arena & Event Center in Flint, Michigan.  Brent Metcalf, Max Askren, Kellen Russell, and Cam Simaz all were victorious in their first AGON bouts.

“I just became a fan of that “State up North,” said Ohio State alum and AGON co-founder Mike DiSabato.  “Miiiiiiichigan showed up to support the revolution of the world’s first and greatest sport. Special thanks to Dave Dean and his great team at NUWAY for making AGON II a huge success.”

Max Askren and Sam Wendland were the first two competitors to take the mat for their 215 match and Askren wasted little time on his way to a 21-10 victory.  He built a 13-0 lead in the first with three takedowns and seven points for exposures.  Wendland stood his ground in the second and limited Max to a single takedown before the action got heated and turned bloody in the third.  Both wrestlers traded takedowns several times in between blood stoppages in the final round before Wendland ended the bout with a takedown and Askren on his back.  While Sam was able to close the gap on the scoreboard, he was unable to erase his first period deficit and Askren walked out victorious.

“I got off to a good start and I think that made the biggest difference in the match,” asserted Max Askren after his AGON debut.  “This was a lot of fun and I am looking forward to doing it again.”

Kellen Russell and Andy Simmons were up next in a matchup of former Michigan and Michigan State collegiate All-Americans at 155 pounds and the Wolverines were victorious with a 9-0 victory for Russell.  Simmons was the early aggressor in the match, but Kellen had an answer for every shot as he came out on top of the majority of the scrambles or was able to defend and hold for a stalemate.  He built a 4-0 lead in the first, scored the only takedown in the second, and added another takedown and a push out in the third to finish the scoring.

“It felt good to get out there and wrestle in Michigan again,” stated Russell after the match.  “I was a little hesitant in the beginning, but I was able to get things going.  We had some great scrambles and fortunately I was able to come out on top.”

Cam Simaz and Ben Bennett wrestled the third bout of day and Simaz came out on top with a great third period and a 16-4 victory.  In a matchup of former Michigan state champions and four-time NCAA All-Americans, the scoring was slow early with Simaz scoring the only takedown in the first round.  Both wrestlers were aggressive to start the second with several stalemates stopping the action before Bennett was able to pick up a takedown and an exposure to take a 4-2 lead.  Simaz answered with two takedowns at the end of the period to go back on top 6-4 heading into the third.  He continued to push the action in the final round with four more takedowns and exposures to score 10 points and put the match away.

“I don’t really know if anything changed during the match, it started a little slow and I just kept trying to score,” offered a victorious Simaz to Lee Kemp after the match.  “Nine minutes were tough, but it worked out well this time and I hope to do it again.”

Brent Metcalf was dominant in the main event with a 19-0 victory against Chris Bono.  Wrestling his first match with his former high school coach Roy Hall in his corner since high school senior nationals, Metcalf jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first with a pair of takedowns and with another in the second he led 6-0 heading into the third.  He exploded in the third with six takedowns, a push out, and an exposure as Bono could not find a counter or an answer to Metcalf’s left handed high crotch that he hit again and again.

“I was very excited for the opportunity to wrestle in the AGON Championships and I think we fought hard and I put on a good show,” asserted Metcalf after the main event.  “I think I needed to open up my offense earlier so next time I need to get it going so I can get to 40 points instead of 19.”

Asked by Ben Askren if there was anyone he wanted to wrestle in AGON, Metcalf was quick to reply, “Ask anyone, I’m sure they want to try and beat me.”

The AGON II Wrestling Championships were broadcast live and available to watch in their archives at their website, www.AGONWC.com.  Olympians Ben Askren, Lee Kemp, and Russ Hellickson provided commentary and analysis during the broadcast.

The Agon III Wrestling championships will be held in Whitewater, Wisconsin on January 26, 2014 at the Williams Center.    Wisconsin wrestling icon and rising MMA superstar Ben Askren will headline the AGON III card with a bout against Illinois native Mike Poeta; Max Askren will face Michigan native Ben Bennett; NCAA champion Craig Becker is slated to face John Mesenbrink; and  college coaches Luke Smith and Chris Heilman will complete the card.

For additional information on the AGON Wrestling Championships please visit their website at www.AGONWC.com.

AGONII Wrestling Championship Results

155 pounds:  Lightweight

Brent Metcalf defeated Chris Bono, 19-0

155 pounds: Lightweight
Kellen Russell defeated Andy Simmons, 9-0

200 pounds: Catch Weight

Cam Simaz defeated Ben Bennett, 16-4

215 pounds: Catch Weight

Max Askren defeated Sam Wendland, 21-10

AGON WC II - Flint, Michigan (12-22-13) First Look

Agon II Wrestling Championships - Perani Arena & Event Center : Flint, Michigan - December 22, 2013 - Photographer: Scott Terna, Ohio Wrestling News - All Rights Reserved AGON WC, Lutte Licensing

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