Former Hononegah state champion wrestler Tony Cassioppi in the quarterfinals of NCAA championships
Tony entered the NCAA wrestling championships hoping to improve on last season’s 7th-place finish.
In his opening match of the NCAA Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tony Cassioppi, former Hononegah state champion wrestler and three-time All-American at University of Iowa, shut out Maryland's Jaron Smith 10-0 on Mar. 16, 2023.
Tony Cassioppi is 21-3 on the season and coming into the quarterfinals trying to improve on last season’s 7th-place finish at the championships.
With the Thursday morning victory and 9-0 major decision over UNI’s 13th-seed Tyrell Gordon on Thursday night, Cassioppi faced Cohlton Schultz from Arizona State. Schultz faced the legend Gable Steveson last year in the NCAA heavyweight title match and lost 6-2. He is a multi-time PAC 12 conference champion. Many people believed Schultz was a darkhorse to get to the finals this year. But Cassioppi won by decision in his match against Schultz, 3-1 (SV1) in the quarterfinals.
Unfortunately, in the semifinals, top-ranked Mason Parris from Michigan won by technical fall over Tony Cassioppi, 16-1 (5:12).
In Session V, the consolation round, Tony lost by decision against Zach Elam of Mizzou, 4-0. Then a fall to Air Force heavyweight wrestler Wyatt Hendrickson concluded Tony's final round in 4:16. Tony ended up as 4th Place All-American.
