Anthony Cassioppi Decommits From Northwestern, Verbals To Iowa

Anthony Cassioppi has decommitted from Northwestern and given a verbal to wrestle for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Jul 5, 2017 by Wrestling Nomad

Anthony Cassioppi Decommits From Northwestern, Verbals To Iowa

Anthony Cassioppi has decommitted from Northwestern and given a verbal to wrestle for Iowa. He is currently ranked No. 28 on the class of 2018 big board, and is the second rising senior (after Nelson Brands) to commit to the Hawkeyes.

Once July 1st hits and college coaches can go visit recruits, the recruiting landscape tends to change. We already saw Josiah Rider re-open his commitment, and now Cassioppi has switched his.

A heavyweight for Hononegah high school, was a 3A state champ in Illinois this past year, going 48-0 on the season. Cassioppi has been on a tear this spring and summer, winning Folkstyle nationals, junior Pan Am titles in both styles and going undefeated in both styles at Junior duals. Back in April, he was runner-up in the UWW Junior 120kg bracket for Greco and placed sixth in freestyle.

The rising senior had this to say about his desire to go to Iowa City:

They have a great room of guys, when I walk into their wrestling room there's just a different atmosphere, you can almost feel champions being forged.

Last year in Fargo, Cassioppi was third in the junior heavyweight bracket for Greco and then runner-up in freestyle a few days later. He will be the favorite to take home the stop sign in both styles in just a few weeks. Watch his semifinal win from last year over Carter Isley below.

Currently, Sam Stoll is the only heavyweight on the Hawkeyes' roster. Stoll has two years of eligibility left, so a Cassioppi redshirt would mean they could get all four years out of him. However, Iowa is also bringing in Aaron Costello, who ended up No. 79 in the final class of 2017 big board.