Setrak Agonian likes to say “I am a 300% man. 100% Armenian, 100% Bulgarian, and 100% American!”

Born, raised, and educated in Bulgaria of Armenian parentage, Setrak’s leadership skills blossomed upon re-locating to America in 1967. He became an American citizen five years later.

At the New York Athletic Club he met his American wrestling mentor, Hall of Famer Bill Farrell.

Farrell recruited Setrak as assistant team leader and interpreter for the 1971 United States contingent at the World Freestyle Championships in his birthplace, Sofia, Bulgaria. Farrell then made Setrak a team leader at the Munich Olympics the following year.

Ever since Setrak has had a hand in the organization of wrestling competition at World Championships and the Olympics.

In 1984 Setrak founded the Metropolitan Wrestling Association, an adjunct of USA Wrestling, to develop and promote wrestling in New York, particularly in New York City schools.

Under his leadership, the MWA convinced the New York Olympic bid group NYC2012 to hold the 2001 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Madison Square Garden to show the world that New York City could host a successful promotion of the event. Unfortunately the 9/11 tragedy prevented it from happening.

Undeterred, Setrak and his colleagues campaigned to host the same event in 2003. The United States was awarded the Men's Freestyle and the Women's Freestyle World Championships at Madison Square Garden and Setrak and his group helped it become the best-attended amateur wrestling event ever.

Setrak is far more than just a wrestling promoter.

Coming of age behind the Iron Curtain and moving to America gave him a unique perspective of both sides of the Cold War. Since becoming an American citizen, he has used wrestling, as well as boxing and soccer, as a bridge to bring disparate people together in a spirit of friendly competition that leads to building relationships.

Setrak's list of athletic diplomacy includes:

• Establishment of the MWA, enabling him to manage dual meets between the United States, Russia, Bulgaria and Armenia.

• Organizing a dual meet between the United States and the Soviet Union at Madison Square Garden, marking the first competition of the two superpowers since the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

• Establishing the first boxing match between police departments from New York City and Moscow.

• Arranging for a wrestling team from Armenia, then a republic within the Soviet Union, to compete against American teams in New York City and Boston.

• Pestering Goodwill Games organizers in 1998 to include wrestling as part of the competition at Madison Square Garden.

• Working tirelessly to bring the World Championships to New York City and Madison Square Garden.

Setrak's fluency in six languages - Armenian, Bulgarian, English, French, German and Russian - help faciliate his global ambition.

His creativity and energy extend well beyond wrestling, as he serves the NYAC in multiple roles while also being highly active in the Kiwanis Club.

Initially after arriving in America, Setrak worked as a machinist and fabricator for several companies. After a few years and in true American fashion, he struck out on his own, founding International Creative Metals, Inc. He continues as CEO of the company that creates ornamental metal works.

Before the finals of the 2003 Freestyle World Championships and with his mentor, Bill Farrell, looking on, Setrak was called to the center of the mat where he was presented the FILA Gold Star of wrestling.

Although the Downstate New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is honoring Setrak Agonian as an Outstanding American, he is truly a man of the world. The wrestling world.