(Whitewater, WI) While the Wisconsin air was cold outside and snow came and went, the action in the Williams Center was hot and heavy as AGON III and the AWA Winter Wrestling Classic were completed in spite of Mother Nature. Ben and Max Askren, veterans of AGON I and II, both needed to mount comebacks to get their second AGON win; and Chris Heilman and Craig Becker were each victorious in their first competition on an AGON mat.
“We believe in Authentic Professional Wrestling and in the great athletes who compete in our sport. AGON III was another successful event for our team and, more importantly, another great event for the fans of our sport,” offered AGON cofounder Michael DiSabato.
In the main event, Ben Askren came from behind to beat Michael Poeta 11-9 in overtime. Poeta controlled the action early and built a 5-0 lead before Ben was able to get on the scoreboard with a push out. Through an action packed second and third period, Askren was able to chip away and take a 9-7 lead with ten seconds to go in the match. A game opponent, Poeta picked up the final takedown in regulation to tie the score and push the match into overtime. Both wrestlers had their opportunities in overtime, but it was Askren that was able to scramble his way to a takedown and the 11-9 victory.
“It was an incredible battle, Mike came to wrestle,” offered Ben after the match. “I had tough time slowing down his speed and power, but I was able to make a comeback and finished it off in overtime.”
“It was an amazing experience wrestling in Wisconsin; the kids showed up for our tournament, the fans came out for AGON, all of the seats were full, the crowd got behind their wrestlers, and I don’t think anyone went home disappointed.”
Max Askren and Ben Bennett were both competing in their second AGON event and each was ready to wrestle. While Bennett built an 8-0 lead in the first and pushed it to 10-0 with an early takedown in the second, Askren responded with nineteen straight points in the last two periods to come out on top with 19-10 victory.
“I can’t believe I gave up that first score, but I guess in the end you can’t stop the funk,” reflected Max after the match. “I gave up eight points in the first period fighting for position when I should have just given up the takedown and let it go at that. Things went my way in the end, but it was a great match and I love wrestling in AGON.”
With both Askren brothers victorious they became the first wrestlers to go 2-0 on the AGON mat. Ben beat Quentin Wright 22-8 at AGON I while Max defeated Sam Wendland 21-10 at AGON II.
“The First Family of Funk has gotten off to a great start in AGON, and we are ready to welcome any challengers,” stated Ben Askren.
In the first match of the card and a battle of college coaches, Chris Heilman defeated Luke Smith 18-11. Heilman, an assistant coach at UW-Whitewater, got things started with an early takedown and exposure points before Smith, an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, came back to put some points on the board and make it a match. Unfortunately for Smith, Heilman was able to continue building his lead throughout the second and third periods and he walked off the mat with an 18-11 victory in his own gym.
Craig Becker, an assistant coach at UW-Parkside, was also victorious in his first AGON match. Wrestling against AWA head coach John Mesenbrink, Becker was able to control the action on their feet and on the mat. Becker was able to stop each of Mesenbrink’s shots and he was able to put him on his back four different times on his way to a 25-0 superior decision.
“We were excited about having the opportunity to host AGON III,” stated UW-Whitewater head coach Tim Fader. “We have a great facility, the building was full of people, and we consider it a complete success.”
“While we loved to see our hometown guy, Chris Heilman, wrestle well and get the win; I thought the best part of the day was the main event. With both Ben and Mike having their kids’ clubs competing in AWA Classic, the crowd was electric and it got louder and louder as they cheered on their coaches.”
“In spite of some of the scores, the matches were exciting and every comment I heard was positive,” concluded Fader. “While we hope to host again, we are all very excited at UW-Whitewater to see where AGON goes from here.”
AGON IV is tentatively scheduled to take place in northern California on March 15. Please check the AGON website at www.AGONWC.com for additional details as they are released.
AGON III Wrestling Championships Results:
Chris Heilman decision over Luke Smith, 18-11
Craig Becker superior decision over John Mesenbrink, 25-0
Max Askren decision over Ben Bennett, 19-10
Ben Askren decision over Michael Poeta, 11-9 OT
University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
Whitewater, Wisconsin – January 26, 2014
Release Published at www.agonwc.com/?page_id=491
AGON III WC video release at www.agonwc.com/?page_id=487
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