Anthony Cassioppi and Jeremiah Moody of the University of Iowa both won Gold medals in freestyle at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships in Fortaleza, Brazil. Cassioppi rolled to his second straight sweep as he repeated as a Gold medalist in both Greco-Roman and Freestyle. In the freestyle portion, Cassioppi won four matches including two by tech fall to win the title. On Friday, Cassioppi was 4-0 with three tech falls and a fall in the finals. For his performance in the GR, Cassioppi was named as the Outstanding Wrestler and awarded the Golden Boot.
Moody had a great tournament in capturing the title at 74 kg/163 lbs. Moody began with a tech fall and then a fall in the semifinals. In the finals, Moody faced Ty Bridgwater of Canada who had tech falled his way to the finals. Moody won a thrilling 12-10 match to win the Gold.
Moody, who will be a redshirt junior this fall from Cambridge, Wisconsin, also won the UWW Junior National title in Las Vegas in April. Moody went on to place second at the UWW Junior World Team Trials. Moody was 13-4 last season competing at 165.
Cassioppi, from Hononegah High School (Roscoe, IL), will be a true freshman when classes begin tomorrow. Cassioppi wrapped up a very impressive high school career this summer by winning his second straight Triple Crown by winning national titles in Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman. You can now add his second straight year of winning a Gold medal in Freestyle and Greco-Roman at the Pan American Championships.
What a great momentum push for Iowa Wrestling as classes for the new year begin tomorrow morning.
Great job to Jeremiah Moody and Anthony Cassioppi for representing Team USA and bringing home three Gold medals.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
Freestyle 74 kg
- Quarterfinal – Jeremiah Christopher Moody (UNITED STATES) won by tech fall over Juan Ignacio Palma Francis (ECUADOR) (TF 10-0)
- Semifinal – Jeremiah Christopher Moody (UNITED STATES) won by fall over Marcos Roberto Quesada Martinez (PERU) (Fall 1:15)
- Finals – Jeremiah Christopher Moody (UNITED STATES) won by decision over Ty Stuart Bridgwater (CANADA) (Dec 12-10)
Freestyle 125 kg
- Round 5 – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by decision over Aly Medhat Abde Barghout (CANADA) (Dec 7-4)
- Round 2 – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by decision over Andrew Jeffrey Gunning Alegre (PERU) (Dec 3-1)
- Round 3 – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by tech fall over Jose Rodrigo Diaz Ponciano (GUATEMALA) (TF 10-0) 0:56
- Round 4 – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by tech fall over Marcos Carrozzino (BRAZIL) (TF 11-0)
Greco-Roman 130 kg
- Round 1 – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by tech fall over Samir Mauricio Vargas Valor (COLOMBIA) (TF 8-0)
- Round 2 – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by tech fall over Andrew Jeffrey Gunning Alegre (PERU) (TF 9-0)
- Round 3 – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) received a bye () (Bye)
- Championship Bracket – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by tech fall over Diego Jesus Almendras Rodriquez (CHILE) (TF 9-0)
- 1st Place Match – Anthony Lawrence Cassioppi (UNITED STATES) won by fall over Paul Baltazar Morales Bojorquez (MEXICO) (Fall 1:23)
