University of Iowa Athletics
Tony Cassioppi - Men's Wrestling - University of Iowa Athletics

Tony Cassioppi

Height 6-0
Weight 285 lbs.
Class RS Sr.
Hometown Roscoe, Ill.
High School Hononegah

Hawk Item
• Four-time All-American — the 25th four-time All-American in program history
• Two-time world age-group medalist
• Won gold at 2021 U23 Men’s Freestyle World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia… outscored opponents, 36-8, en route to first place at 125 kg
• Made U23 men’s world freestyle team after winning U23 National Championships in 2022 in Ohio
• Earned bronze at the 2022 U23 UWW World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

2022-23
• NCAA All-American, placing fourth at 285 at the NCAA Championships
• Finished third at Big Ten Championships to earn an automatic berth into NCAA Championships
• Advanced to NCAA semifinals for second time in his career
• No. 4 seed at the NCAA Championships
• Went 25-5 overall with 16 bonus point wins (11 falls, five majors)
• 25 wins were tied for the most on the team
• 11 falls are the most by a Hawkeye since 2017
• Went 13-2 in duals and 5-2 in Big Ten duals
• Scored 64 dual team points — the most on the team
• Ranked in the top four of the national rankings throughout the season
• Had four straight falls to open the season and a career-best stretch of five consecutive falls during the year
• Soldier Salute champion, pinning his way to the title
• Had a stall out victory in dual win over Illinois and a forfeit victory against Purdue
• Went 9-5 against ranked opponents
• Recipient of the Coaches Appreciation Award
• Academic All-Big Ten selection
• Letterwinner

2021-22
• NCAA All-American
• Placed 7th at NCAA Championships
• Placed second at Big Ten Championships
• Climbed as high as No. 3 in the national rankings
• Posted a 19-4 season record at 285 pounds, 13-2 in dual competition and 7-1 in Big Ten duals
• Scored 57 team points in dual competition
• Tied for the team lead with three pins and tallied four major decisions
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Letterwinner

2020-21
• UWW U23 World Champion (125 kg)
• All-American
• Placed third at the NCAA Championships
• Placed third at the Big Ten Championships
• Reached as high as No. 3 in the national rankings
• Only three losses of the season were to Gable Steveson (2) and Mason Paris, the NCAA champion and NCAA runner-up
• Earned an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships, where he was the No. 5 seed
• 10 wins over ranked opponents
• Started all five conference duals, posting a 4-1 record
• Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (2/9)
• Tied for team lead with five major decisions and ranked second with five falls
• Academic All-Big Ten
• NWCA Scholar Athlete
• Letterwinner

2019-20
• All-American
• Seeded third at the NCAA Championships
• Placed third at the Big Ten Championships to earn automatic berth to the national tournament
• Midlands Champion, recording two falls and three decisions to win 285-pound title
• Recorded 20-3 overal record, including nine wins over ranked opponents
• Started every dual at 285 pounds
• Only three losses of the season were to No. 1 Gable Steveson (2) and No. 2 Mason Parris
• Reached as high as No. 3 in national rankings
• Scored bonus points in 10-of-20 wins, including seven falls
• Recorded a fall in 0:20 seconds
• 6-1 record at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
• Amateur Wrestling News All Rookie First Team
• Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner
• NWCA Scholar American
• Academic All-Big Ten
• Letterwinner

2018-19
• Recorded an overall record of 20-2 competing unattached at 285 pounds
• Competed in five tournament, winning titles at the Grand View Open, Lindenwood Open, UNI Open, and Loras Open
• Named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week after pinning his way to the title at the UNI Open… placed seventh at the Midlands Championships
• Won 14 matches by fall, 13 of which ended in the first period, five within the first minute
• His fastest fall was 25 seconds
• Won the 125 kg title at the 2019 UWW Junior Nationals

High School
• Two-time Illinois high school state champion
• Compiled a perfect 100-0 record as a junior (52-0) and senior (48-0)
• Allowed zero offensive points as a junior and senior
• 52 wins in 2016-17 are a school record
• Set school records for pins (35) and takedowns (220) in a season
• Pinned all four opponents in under two minutes at the 2018 IHSA state tournament
• Three-time conference champion… three time state medalist, placing third in 2016 as a sophomore, recording a 44-3 record
• Was 29-5 as freshman before injury ended his season
• Three-time Team MVP
• Placed third in folkstyle and freestyle at 2015 Fargo cadet.
• Placed second at 2016 Fargo junior freestyle national championships and third at 2016 Fargo Greco-Roman national championships
• Junior Triple Crown winner (folkstyle, freestyle, Greco-Roman national champion) in 2017 and 2018
• Junior Pan Am Games (Lima, Peru) champion in 2017
• Played football tackle and guard his sophomore and junior seasons

Personal
• Born December 1, 1999
• Son of Tony and Erica Cassioppi
• Oldest of six children, siblings include Giovanni, Rose, Angelina, Rocco, and Bruno
• Earned his bachelor’s degree in math and sports and recreation management
• Currently working on his master’s degree in finance

Overall Dual Big Ten Dual Dual Pts. Big Ten NCAA OT MD TF Pins Fastest
Year Record Record Record Scored Place Place W/L W/L W/L W/L Pin
2019-20 20-3 11-2 7-2 45 3rd AA 0-0 3-0 0-0 7-1 0:20
2020-21 13-3 4-1 4-1 21 3rd 3rd 0-0 5-2 0-0 5-1 0:23
2021-22 19-4 13-2 7-1 57 2nd 7th 1-1 3-1 0-0 3-1 1:14
2022-23 25-5 13-2 5-2 64 3rd 4th 2-0 5-0 0-1 11-1 0:53
Career 77-15 41-7 23-6 190 3-1 16-3 0-1 26-4 0:20
Real Woods Named Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Real Woods Named Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler
Iowa Concludes Intrasquad Matches Iowa Concludes Intrasquad Matches
Iowa Wrestling Holds Day 1 of Intrasquad Matches Iowa Wrestling Holds Day 1 of Intrasquad Matches
Iowa’s Wrestling Facility to be Named for Iowa Supporters Iowa’s Wrestling Facility to be Named for Iowa Supporters
Williams to be Inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame Williams to be Inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Iowa Wrestling: Carver Is Sold Out… AGAIN Iowa Wrestling: Carver Is Sold Out… AGAIN
Cassioppi Earns Bronze at 2022 U23 UWW World Championships Cassioppi Earns Bronze at 2022 U23 UWW World Championships
Cassioppi Alive for Bronze at U23 UWW World Championships Cassioppi Alive for Bronze at U23 UWW World Championships
Cassioppi Set to Defend World Title in Spain Cassioppi Set to Defend World Title in Spain
Iowa Wrestling TV Schedule/Start Times Released Iowa Wrestling TV Schedule/Start Times Released
Iowa Men's Wrestling Releases Complete 2022-23 Schedule Iowa Men's Wrestling Releases Complete 2022-23 Schedule
Big Ten Releases 2022-23 League Slate Big Ten Releases 2022-23 League Slate
Gilman Earns Silver at Senior World Championships Gilman Earns Silver at Senior World Championships
3 Hawkeyes to Compete in NWCA All-Star Classic 3 Hawkeyes to Compete in NWCA All-Star Classic
Former Hawkeye Ray Brinzer Elected to PWCA Hall of Fame Former Hawkeye Ray Brinzer Elected to PWCA Hall of Fame
2 Incoming Hawkeyes Win Fargo National Titles; 4 Earn All-America Honors 2 Incoming Hawkeyes Win Fargo National Titles; 4 Earn All-America Honors
Kennedy, Cassioppi Win U23 National Titles Kennedy, Cassioppi Win U23 National Titles
9 Hawkeyes Head to Ohio for U20/U23 World Team Trials 9 Hawkeyes Head to Ohio for U20/U23 World Team Trials
Cassioppi, Lugo to Compete at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Cassioppi, Lugo to Compete at World Team Trials Challenge Tournament
Iowa Leads Nation in Attendance for 15th Straight Year; Sets Division I Record Iowa Leads Nation in Attendance for 15th Straight Year; Sets Division I Record
Inaugural Soldier Salute to Take Place Dec. 29-30 Inaugural Soldier Salute to Take Place Dec. 29-30
Schreiver Finishes 8th at U.S. Open Senior Championships Schreiver Finishes 8th at U.S. Open Senior Championships
7 Hawkeyes Named NWCA Scholar All-Americans 7 Hawkeyes Named NWCA Scholar All-Americans
Hawkeyes Head to U.S. Open Championships Hawkeyes Head to U.S. Open Championships
Final Notes 2022 Final Notes 2022
Jacob Warner Named Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Jacob Warner Named Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler
Jacob Warner Finishes Runner-Up at 2022 NCAA Championships Jacob Warner Finishes Runner-Up at 2022 NCAA Championships
4 Hawkeyes Wrap NCAA Championships with All-America honors 4 Hawkeyes Wrap NCAA Championships with All-America honors
Jacob Warner to Compete for NCAA Championship Jacob Warner to Compete for NCAA Championship
DeSanto, Warner Advance to NCAA Semifinals DeSanto, Warner Advance to NCAA Semifinals
6 Hawkeyes Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals 6 Hawkeyes Advance to NCAA Quarterfinals