Metropolitan Wrestling Association

Member of USA Wrestling

P.O.Box 661

Woodside, New York  11377

718-899-7306  fax 718- 565-0854  e-mail: icemetalinc@aol.com

Setrak Agonian  President                                                                 for immediate release:   Thursday, September 26, 2002

MWA NAMED PARTNER ORAGANIZATION IN LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN.

Chris Bevilacqua, Founder of the College Sports Network, elected to the Board of Directors and will be Media Representative to the World Championships

USA Wrestling, the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling, informed the Metropolitan Wrestling Association that it has been designated as a partner organization in the Local Organizing Committee for the 2003 World Championships.  The MWA will partner with NYC2012 to bring the event to Madison Square Garden. President Setrak Agonian was delighted with the recognition by USA Wrestling, the National Governing Body of Olympic Wrestling, and pledged that it will be the largest World Championships ever.

The Annual Awards Dinner scheduled for November 13, 2002 at the New York Athletic Club will honor Mr. Dan Doctoroff, Deputy Mayor of NYC, Dr. Harvey Schiller, former Executive Director of the United States Olympic Committee and former CEO of YankeeNets, Mr. Glen Podziba, NYC Sports Commissioner and Wendy Hilliard, NYC2012 Sports Director will be honored for their contribution in securing the rights for the 2003 FILA World Freestyle Wrestling Championships.

Chris Bevilacqua, former all-American at Penn State and Founder of the National College Sports Network [NCSN], is currently scheduled to debut in the first quarter of 2003 and will provide 24 hour coverage of collegiate and amateur sports, was elected as a Board Member of the MWA. 

President Agonian in announcing the position stated “ it is an honor for the MWA to have Chris as one its members and will represent the organization with media relations in the upcoming World Championships.  Chris will be working very closely with USAW to provide national television coverage for the event.” 

Prior to NCSN, Chris was Nike’s Director of Global Negotiations and was responsible for negotiating the company’s marketing and media partnerships with National and International Bodies, NCAA Conferences and Universities and professional sports leagues.  In 1988, while working for NBC Sports, Chris received an Emmy Award for his work at the Seoul Olympics.

While making the announcement, President Agonian interjected “ it appears the apple did not fall far from the tree with our current Chairman Al Bevilacqua who has been actively involved with promoting the sport for the past 40 years.” 

The MWA, while managing the World Championships is also working on a separate track of developing a USA Wrestling /MWA “Beat the Streets Program” in New York City.  The first unit will be in Jersey City and additional units are planned for the South Bronx and Manhattan.

The program will be introducing the sport of wrestling with existing community-based programs and will provide educational components as well. 

The Metropolitan Wrestling Association is a 501 C3 not for profit organization whose mission it is to market and promote Olympic and Junior Olympic Wrestling in the New York Metropolitan area.