Metcalf and Pico set to collide at Agon V

CEDAR RAPIDS - Brent Metcalf and Aaron Pico stood face-to-face and glared eye-to-eye.

Metcalf may have seen a little bit of himself from a few years ago in the 18-year-old from Whittier, Calif.

The two standout wrestlers will face off in the main event match, headlining Agon V: Iowa against the World Friday night at the U.S. Cellular Center, starting at 7:30. The card is expected to have eight bouts, including five former University of Iowa wrestlers and two Cyclone Wrestling Club members.

Instead of being the young gun ready to make his mark internationally, Metcalf is the established old guard, fending off challengers like Pico.

'I can see that,” Metcalf said. 'I think that is important for me to remember, if I want to continue to maintain my position. These guys are very motivated.”

Metcalf was not much older than Pico when he took aim at veteran wrestlers like Doug Schwab, Bill Zadick, Jared Frayer and Eric Larkin. He beat Schwab and Frayer both to claim a spot on the 2010 U.S. World Team, capping his Hawkeye career as a two-time NCAA champion a few months earlier.

Pico has already won a senior-level tournament overseas, beating Armenia's 2013 World champion David Safaryan for the 143-pound pound gold medal at the Henri Deglane Challenge in December in Nice, France.

'I think even more extreme, because he is younger than I was,” Metcalf said. 'I was 20 or 21, so it's not that far away.”

Pico went 42-0, winning a state title for St. John Bosco (Calif.) as a freshman in 2013. He decided to forego the rest of his prep and college career to focus on his freestyle career, working with accomplished international wrestler and coach Valentin Kalika.

'I think my situation is a little bit different,” said Pico, who has spent time training in Russia. 'He was in the same position. I'm very young.

'I have a lot of tricks. I've been training a lot. I have a lot to bring, too. I'm going to bring everything I've got. We're excited to be here.”

Pico captured Cadet World title in 2013 and was a silver medalist at the Junior World Championships in 2014. He jumped at the chance to compete against Metcalf.

'It's a great opportunity for me,” Pico said. 'When it was presented to us, it was a no-brainer, especially being in Iowa. This is where we want it to be. They have the best wrestling fans.”

Metcalf is seasoned at 28. He is not surprised with the cycle where he has transitioned from hunter to the hunted.

'It's the evolution of the sport,” Metcalf said. 'If you do this long enough, you're going to be the old guy.”

Metcalf said this might be a better opportunity for Pico, but he is fine with it. The match could be a chance to send a message that he remains the current standard for U.S. wrestlers at his weight. He doesn't want to let Pico's confidence grow for possible matches at U.S. National tournament or World Team Trials.

Metcalf weighed in at 149.6, while Pico pushed the scale to 149.8.

'He's a good competitor and trained by a good coach,” Metcalf said. 'He can stay in a match.

'It's a match that can be very close, if I let it be. You put that on yourself to really open things up early and get things going your way. Now, you're putting out an entertaining product.”

Tickets remain available to see notable matches like former Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo against Iowa NCAA champion and current World Team member Tony Ramos in the co-main event.

The undercard includes Iowa's Matt McDonough against Iowa State assistant Angel Escobedo in a rematch of the 2010 Big Ten Conference Championships. Former Hawkeye Derek St. John will compete with former Northwestern All-American Jason Welch in a rematch of the 2013 157-pound NCAA final won by St. John. Former Iowa All-American Phil Keddy takes on Cyclone Wrestling Club's Deron Winn.

Three prep matches are on the slate, including Hawkeye recruits Justin Mejia, Alex Marinelli and Michael Kemerer, and Bettendorf state champion Fredy Stroker.

Metcalf has participated in previous Agon events and said the fans will be entertained.

'It's a lot of fun,” Metcalf said. 'It's more different from anything else than what you would watch at Carver (Hawkeye Arena) or any other wrestling event.

'You see the lights, the smoke and stuff in here. They will really hype it up.”

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