Anthony Cassioppi put on a display in Las Vegas this weekend in capturing the 125 kg title at the UWW Junior National Championships.  Cassioppi added to his reputation for ending his matches in a hurry. Cassioppi pinned his first two opponents :31 and :58 and followed up with a tech fall in :16.  That is getting it done in a hurry. After receiving a forfeit in the Semifinals, Cassioppi defeated Seth Nevills by a 13-0 tech fall for the title. Nevills was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school.

Cassioppi now advances to the Best of 3 series at 125 kg in Raleigh, NC at the Junior World Team Trials on May 18.  The winner will represent Team USA at the 2019 Junior World Freestyle Championships in Tallinn, Estonia on August 12-18.

Nelson Brands had a good tournament with a 7-1 record.  After dropping a match to David Carr in the Quarterfinals, Brands battled back to place third at 74 kg.  In the Consolation Semifinals Brands defeated highly touted recruit Travis Wittlake of Oklahoma State, 3-1. Brands will now compete in the Junior World Team Trials Tournament in Raleigh, NC on May 17.  The winner of that tournament will face David Carr in a best of 3 series with the winner making the World team.

Connor Corbin went 4-2 for the tournament to place seventh at 92 kg and Aaron Cashman was 2-2 at 57 kg.

Cassioppi, Brands, and Cashman are in the Iowa Wrestling Recruiting Class of 2018 and will be redshirt freshman next season.  Corbin is in the Recruiting Class of 2017 and will be a redshirt sophomore next year.

 

57 kg

Rd of 64: Aaron Cashman (Iowa) over Zurich Storm (WCC) VSU1 15-4

Rd of 32: Aaron Cashman (Iowa) over VSU over Matt Vinci (Nwestern) 10-0

Rd of 16: Sam Latona (TMWC) over Aaron Cashman (Iowa) VPO1 6-4

Consi 16 #2: Julian Tagg (Elite AP) over Aaron Cashman (Iowa) VPO1 10-4

 

74 kg

Rd of 64: Nelson Brands (Iowa) over Kasper McIntosh (MN Storm) VPO1 5-2

Rd of 32: Nelson Brands (Iowa) over Vincent Dolce (Air Force) VSU 11-0

Rd of 16: Nelson Brands (Iowa) over Michael Petite (Bulls WC) VSU :21

Quarters: David Carr (Cyclone RTC) over Nelson Brands (Iowa) Iowa VPO1 4-2

Consi 8 #2: Nelson Brands (Iowa) over Owen Brown (WPRTC) VSU1 15-4

Consi 4: Nelson Brands (Iowa) over Philip Conigliaro (Unattached) VSU1 12-1

Consi Semis: Nelson Brands (Iowa) over Travis Wittlake (Cowboy WC) VPO1 3-1

3rd Place: Nelson Brands (Iowa) over Julian Ramirez (Blairstown WC) FVA 8-0 2:06  

 

92 kg

Rd of 32: Dakota Howard (SERTC-VT) over Connor Corbin (Iowa) VPO1 7-3

Consi 16 #2: Connor Corbin (Iowa) over Franco Pedro (Idaho) VSU 10-0

Consi 8 #1: Connor Corbin (Iowa) over Noah Cressel (Bison WC) VSU 11-0

Consi 8 #2: Connor Corbin (Iowa) over Brad Wilton (Mich St) VPO1 8-6

Cons 4: Dakota Howard (SERTC) over Connor Corbin (Iowa) VPO 6-0

7th Place: Connor Corbin (Iowa) over  Tyrell Gordon (Panther WC) VPO1 6-2

 

125 kg

Rd of 32: Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa) over Trevor Pigott (OWC) VFA :31

Rd of 16: Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa)i over.Cole Rickert (Pitt) VFA :58

Quarters: Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa) over Samuel Aguilar (CCRTC) VSU 10-0 :16

Semifinals: Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa) over Kayne Hutchison (AF) VFO

Finals: Anthony Cassioppi (Iowa) over Seth Nevills (Unattached) VSU 13-0

 

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!