I’m here in the legendary Iowa Wrestling room with 2014 NCAA National Champion Tony Ramos. First of all Tony I wanted to go back to the NCAA Tournament where you achieved your life-long dream of becoming an National Champion. How does it feel to be a National Champion?
Ramos: It’s exciting, it’s a lot of fun. I achieved something that I worked my whole life for. It’s a great accomplishment when you get there.
The National Tournament was not going Iowa’s way as a team and you stood up and carried the torch for the legendary Iowa Wrestling program. Is that something you were thinking about or was it just one match at a time for you?
Ramos: For me I had to take it one match at a time, but also at the end of the tournament you knew that the fans were there just for you and that was all that was left that we could do. We had locked in fourth in the team race. I did not want to end it on a bad note, I wanted to give them something to cheer about.
Looking forward, I know that you just completed a great career at Iowa, but there are rumors about you going down to 125 (57 kilos) for the World Team Trials.
Ramos: Yes, that is what I am working on now. I am working on weight control and getting better in my wrestling so I am getting back into it now.
Is it a case where because you were a National Champion that you automatically qualify for the World Team Trials?
Ramos: Yes, that is what qualified me. I got the automatic bid.
When is the last time you weighed in the 120’s?
Ramos: After my redshirt freshman year I wrestled at 121 for Universities.
Will you be hitting your weight before the Trials?
Ramos: Probably not, I will not hit that weight until weigh ins.
What are your expectations for the WTT’s? This will be the first time that you wrestle freestyle in several years.
Ramos: I expect to win it. Nothing changes. Wrestling is wrestling, you need to score points. Going out there and competing. For me I think it’s better because it’s more wrestling on the feet and not the mat. The push out rule is only going to help me. When I wrestle I control the center of the mat, so that is good for me. Freestyle is going to fit me better.
I was really encouraged watching the U.S. Open that as a fan is was so much more fun to watch with the new rules compared to two years ago with the Olympic Trials in Iowa City. So do think the new rules play into your game?
Ramos: I think the new rules definitely play into my hand a lot.
Will you be graduating this Spring?
Ramos: I graduate May 17th.
You won a National Title, graduate from college, and head right into the World Team Trials. You are staying here with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club then?
Ramos: Yes, I will be here in the room training with the Hawkeye Wrestling Club. I graduate in May, the World Team Trials at the end of May, I get married in July and then hopefully go right into preparing for the World Championships.
For your future plans, you are going into International Wrestling. I have heard your name thrown around for MMA. Any future plans for MMA or coaching or right now is it strictly wrestling?
Ramos: Right now wrestling and coaching are options. Mainly wrestling. If I can get on the staff here that would be awesome. MMA is something that I have thought about but freestyle wrestling is the route I am going to go now.
If you do go to MMA, I have thought of a good nickname. Tony “Famous” Ramos. What do you think of that?
Ramos: That is a good one.
If Bruce Buffer calls you out as Tony “Famous” Ramos at a UFC fight you better get me a good ticket for that.
Ramos: Alright.
What are your thoughts on the future of Iowa Wrestling? I know you are in there wrestling with Clark, Gilman, and the guys. What are your thoughts of the program moving forward?
Ramos: I think it’s in good hands. A lot of guys are coming in that are tough and ready to compete. I do not think there will be any drop-offs at the weights where we lost guys. I think it’s just going to get better from here.
I said for years that National Champs at Iowa are legends When I look back at you career I will always remember the two big dual meet pins at home against Penn State. They keep showing the clip of your pin with Ironside’s voice from the radio show when he is going crazy. I think that will be played for years to come. And then of course Nationals your senior year. I wanted to congratulate you as an Iowa Wrestling fan and I will of course continue to follow your career in International Wrestling.
Ramos: Thank you.
Commentary: I look for Tony Ramos to have a great career in International Wrestling at 57 kilos. I believe Ramos will bring some excitement to a weight class that has not done very well since Cejudo won an Olympic Gold Medal in 2008. In the lightest weight class in Freestyle, the U.S. placed 24th, 9th, and 5th from 2009-2011 at the Worlds, 17th in the 2012 Olympics, and fifth at the 2013 Worlds.
Look for Tony Ramos to make a name for himself in Internationals Wrestling.
