Legendary wrestler Tony Cassioppi takes assistant coach role with the University of Wisconsin

Congrats Tony! Former Hononegah Indian and Iowa wrestler Tony Cassioppi has joined the University of Wisconsin wrestling coaching staff in 2024 as an assistant coach. He now joins his brother as a coach, as Giovanni coaches women’s wrestling at Chadron State in Chadron, NE.

The Cassioppi family has been around the sport since Giovanni saw a flyer distributed by former Hononegah Community High School wrestling coach Marty Keiser years ago. Since then, the Cassioppi family has become a wrestling dynasty, with Tony, Giovanni, Rose, Angelina and twins Rocco and Bruno dominating the mats locally, internationally, and on the world stage.

Cassiooippi wrestling family. Photo: Jean Seegers

Tony Cassioppi had a very decorated high school career as he was a two-time state champion and compiled a 173-8 overall record while at Hononegah High School. He was 100-0 his junior and senior seasons: 52-0 as a junior and 48-0 as a senior. He was a 3-time NIC 10 conference champion.

On the international mats, Tony became the 2017 Junior Pan Am Games champion in Lima, Peru.

While at University of Iowa, Cassioppi was a four-time All-American and won gold at the 2021 U23 Men’s Freestyle World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia… outscored opponents, 36-8, en route to first place at 125 kg, made the 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.

Tony earned four Academic-All-Big Ten honors and was also a four-time National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Scholar All-American. The four-year letterwinner for the Hawkeyes earned two bachelor’s degrees as a double major (math and sports & recreation management) and also earned his master’s degree in finance this May 2024.  He was awarded Iowa’s Coaches Appreciation Award in 2023 and the Most Courageous Award in 2024.

Thank you to the University of Wisconsin and the University of Iowa for information regarding the story.

Want to read more? Read Jean Seegers' story on the Cassioppi family at home.

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