Tony Ramos ready to vie for spot in Rio

IOWA CITY — Two years ago this month, Tony Ramos weighed his options.

As he prepped to become a husband and start a family, the University of Iowa national champion considered continuing his wrestling career, joining the coaching ranks and becoming a Mixed Martial Artist.

He needed just a few weeks before deciding to focus on the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ramos is on the verge of accomplishing that goal as one of the top 125 1/2-pound contenders at the USA Wrestling Olympic Team Trials on April 9-10 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Coming off a 133-pound NCAA title, Ramos had trouble wrapping his mind around almost an eight-pound drop. He witnessed wrestlers his size make the cut, so he was confident he could as well.

'I think if I had made a decision not to keep wrestling I'd still be successful in whatever I was doing just because of the work ethic and attitude I have,' Ramos said. 'Now that I've put myself in this situation it's a great opportunity and I'm definitely glad I made that jump and was convinced to go in that direction.'

The brash Hawkeye Wrestling Club member wasn't interested in taking a back seat, calling out established wrestlers at the 2014 U.S. World Team Trials. He posted the results to back it up, making the 2014 and 2015 U.S. World team. Ramos said it was not immediate success, but the product of a longer process.

'I don't think it really was that quickly because to me it's been going on for 22 years now,' Ramos said Monday at the Dan Gable Wrestling Complex. 'It's been going on since the first day I started practicing and learning how to wrestle.

'Everything builds up. You just have to have that confidence to go out there and beat anyone.'

Ramos has moments of being loud and proud. He demonstrates savvy, promoting himself. This week, however, he turned the attention on social media to those who have helped him get to this point.

The supporters range from family and childhood coaches, which included his father, Al, who was a youth coach in Carol Stream, Ill., to Iowa coaches Terry and Tom Brands. Close friends have helped with looking after the house and pets when he is competing overseas to helping baby-sit his son, A.J., who will celebrate his first birthday April 25. Sponsors have provided a boost and local fans have embraced him since he stepped on campus in 2009. Ramos has relied on the entire network.

'It takes a huge support staff,' Ramos said. 'Just going back and recognizing all the people that have put into this puzzle that they are creating and they want to see the completion.

'There are a lot of people who have built and shaped me to think like I do, wrestle like I do and do what I do every single day.'

Ramos has won international titles in Paris and Canada. He actually qualified the U.S. for the Olympics at his weight, earning a runner-up finish at the Pan Am Qualifier tournament in March.

The 2015 U.S. Open champion has competed all over the globe, including Russia and Iran. Ramos and his wife of 20 months, Megan, a former Iowa volleyball player, have accepted the costs of his athletic accomplishments.

'I knew the sacrifices I was going to have to make with missing some things,' Ramos said. 'When I was in Iran, I missed his (A.J.'s) first Halloween and stuff like that, but hopefully one day he'll realize what that was for and be excited and pumped up about what his dad did.'

The youngest Ramos could be surrounded by his dad's family, in-laws, coaches and Hawkeye fans cheering him Sunday. Ramos will put his unbeaten record (34-0) at CHA on the line. He also hasn't lost to an American opponent since 2013.

Ramos expects a big following and an electric atmosphere when the first whistle blows.

'Everyone's going to be here,' Ramos said. 'I know it's going to be an emotional moment when I first step back out in Carver. I need to be able to control those emotions and use them like I did every time I stepped out in Carver and ended up coming with the 'W' and some very big wins.'

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