Setrak Agonian of Woodside, N.Y. has been named the 2003 Man of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling. This award recognizes an outstanding man for his contributions to the sport of wrestling.    Agonian is the president of the Metropolitan Wrestling Assocation (MWA) in New York City, an allied member of USA Wrestling and a leader in the promotion and development of the sport in the East.     The MWA was the local wrestling group that played a key role in the organization and presentation of the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling, held in Madison Square Garden in New York City in September. FILA, the international wrestling federation, declared that the competition was the greatest World Wrestling Championships ever held. Record crowds of fans watched the world's best men and women freestyle wrestlers compete on five mats in the world's most famous sports arena.    Agonian played a leadership role in bringing the World Championships to New York. The story begins a number of years ago, when Agonian and other New York-area wrestling leaders convinced the leaders of New York's Olympic bid group, NYC2012, to embrace their idea to hold the 2001 World Wrestling Championship in New York City as part of its efforts to show the world that it should host the 2012 Olympics.    With NYC2012 as its partner, the MWA convinced USA Wrestling that the 2001 World Championships should be held in New York, a financial and cultural capitol of the world. He was also involved in lobbying FILA, the international wrestling federation, to award the competition to the United States and to New York.    The 2001 World Championships in all three wrestling styles were awarded to New York, and Agonian and the leaders from the MWA and NYC2012 worked together on the presentation and promotion of the tournament. A record number of nations and athletes registered to compete in the event.    Just two weeks before the tournament, on September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked America, bringing down the historic World Trade Towers in downtown Manhattan. This unbelievable tragedy caused the postponement of the World Championships, which were ultimately removed from New York by FILA, and placed in Bulgaria and Greece. All of the hard work and efforts of the wrestling community to stage a world-class wrestling event in New York City had been wiped out by the terrorist attack.    Agonian and his New York peers did not want the terrorist act to destroy the tremendous opportunity for USA Wrestling and for the sport on the international level. The plan was to attempt to bring the event back to New York in 2003. However, FILA had awarded the World Freestyle Championships to Slovakia for freestyle and France for Greco-Roman, and if the United States wished to host them, they had to work out an arrangement with the wrestling federations of those nations.    Representing USA Wrestling, Agonian was the lead negotiator with the Slovakian Wrestling Federation and their Olympic sports leaders, and helped to convince the Slovakians to release the World Championships to the United States. France did not choose to release the Greco-Roman portion, but FILA also awarded the women's event to New York, setting up the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling in Madison Square Garden.    Throughout the next years, Agonian and the MWA worked hard on World Championships, which culminated with a tremendous success. In addition to the outstanding wrestling, many other major activities were held, including the "Evening with Legends" dinner at the New York Athletic Club, as well as the first induction of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.    On center mat of Madison Square Garden prior to the finals of the competition, Agonian was awarded the FILA Gold Star, the highest honor awarded by the international wrestling federation    Agonian's involvement with the World Championships was part of many years of leadership that he provided within the American wrestling community and within USA Wrestling.    His first major wrestling assignment was to serve as U.S. assistant team leader and interpreter for the 1971 World Championships, held in Sofia, Bulgaria. He was recruited into the effort by the legendary Bill Farrell. His assistance helped the U.S. to a strong performance, led by a gold medal by Dan Gable at 68 kg. The next year, at the 1972 Olympics, Agonian assisted Farrell in the U.S. wrestling effort, helping handle the needs of the families of the athletes.    Agonian was involved as a team leader or administrator for a number of U.S. teams in international competition, including Junior and Senior level teams from 1974-1979.     Working with Farrell, Sonny Greenhalgh and many others, Agonian was the founder of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association in 1984. This group was involved in bringing international wrestling competitions to New York, including dual meets between the United States and teams from the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and Armenia.     The 1985 USA vs. Soviet Union match was held in Madison Square Garden, the first such battle after the 1984 Soviet boycott of the Los Angeles Olympics. National corporation Benihana was the event sponsor. The 1988 dual meet was run in conjunction with the Woodside Kiwanis Club as part of Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No To Drugs" campaign.    In 1990, Agonian was instrumental in convincing the Soviet Union to allow a team representing the republic of Armenia to come to the USA for wrestling dual meets in New York City and Boston. The Armenian flag was flown for the first time in the USA at a sports event. Later, Agonian was elected as a founding member of the Armenian Olympic Committee.    Agonian continued his international wrestling leadership by serving as a member of the FILA Marketing Committee beginning in 1987.    His involvement in international athletics includes many other sports and activities. This year, Agonian represented the U.S. Olympic Committee in attending important Olympic meetings held in his native Bulgaria.    He established the first boxing match between the Police Departments of New York City and Moscow, Russia in 1987. He brought a New York City Police Department delegation to Sofia, Bulgaria in 1992, with support from AT&T. In his role with the Armenian Olympic Committee, he developed the idea to enter two Armenian athletes in the bobsled competition at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.    Since 1973, Agonian has been the CEO and founder of International Creative Metals, Inc., makers of unique ornamental architechtural metal work. His work can be found on many of New York's landmark buildings as well as in locations around the world. His company has received some major awards for the quality of their work.    Agonian gives special credit to two individuals who have served as his mentors within wrestling: Farrell and long-time USA Wrestling leader John Vaughan. He is also grateful for his strong working relationship with former USA Wrestling Executive Director Jim Scherr (now acting CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee), as well as current USA Wrestling Executive Directo Rich Bender.     PAST USA WRESTLING MAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS  2003 - Set Agonian  2002 - Al Kastl  2001 - James Ravannack  2000 - Rulon Gardner  1999 - Duane Morgan  1998 - Scott Beck  1997 - Rick Tucci  1996 - Dave Schultz  1995 - Leroy Evans  1994 - James E. Scherr  1993 - Arthur J. Martori  1992 - Bruce Baumgartner  1990 - Eugene Barone  1989 - John Vaughan  1987 - Dave Rudrud  1986 - Jeff Blatnick  1985 - Dr. Dan Gould  1984 - Gary Thompson  1983 - Don Sondgeroth  1982 - Frank Rader  1981 - John Roberts  1980 - Rick Bay  1979 - Ben Bennett  1978 - Werner Holzer  1977 - Vince Zuaro  1976 - Ken Kraft  1974-75 - Russ Hellickson  1973 - Jack Stanbro  1972 - Melvin Jones  1971 - Bud Linholm  1970 - Rex Peery