Iowa heavyweight Tony Cassioppi is pinning opponents even more than usual

IOWA CITY — Tony Cassioppi has been sticking it to the competition.

Iowa’s heavyweight has always had a penchant for the pin, but he’s kicked up a notch this season.

Cassioppi has a season-high nine pins, including five in a row entering the second-ranked Hawkeyes’ dual against Illinois Friday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (7 p.m., B1G+ streaming). He has recorded the most falls in a season by an Iowa wrestler since Alex Marinelli had nine in 2018-19.

“I feel good, wrestling good,” Cassioppi said. “I’ve always been pretty good on top. I’ve been having success on top against guys, getting falls.”

Cassioppi has been dominant this season, posting a major decision and a seven-point decision in his two wins that went the distance. All of his pins have been in the first period. He opened the year with four straight pins. His current streak started Dec. 10 at Chattanooga and included pinning his way through the Soldier Salute.

“I’m going out there to wrestle how I wrestle,” Cassioppi said. “Tom had me cut the guys a few times. Got some takedowns. Just working on my wrestling, but it’s a tournament. I’m going out there to wrestle and beat the other guy. It doesn’t matter the competition.”

Spencer Lee said Cassioppi resembles a lightweight wrestler in a heavyweight body. He was impressed with Cassioppi taking down and releasing his finals opponent a few times before ending it early. Lee expects more dominance.

“He’s pinned so many guys, I’m having a hard time counting,” Lee said. “I think it’s the most pins by a guy on my team since I’ve been in college. Every year, we have the team’s ‘Most Falls’ award. I think the most I’ve seen is eight or nine. He’s going to blow that out of the water. We have a lot more matches to go.”

Conditioning could be an issue when wrestlers don’t experience full seven-minute matches. The work he does in practice is more than enough to make up for full bouts.

“I’m not worried about that,” Cassioppi said. “I’m wrestling in the room every single day, wrestling hard (and) wrestling long. Just because I have a few matches that are short doesn’t take away from my endurance or make me worry about my endurance.”

Iowa Coach Tom Brands doesn’t dwell on the past results, but credits Cassioppi for the accomplishments. The focus has to be on what is next, which is Cassioppi’s exact mentality.

“When you look at those stats you mentioned, that’s all great but really it’s about what is in front of him,” Brands said. “All that helps. It builds momentum. It shows you have the ability to terminate a match, but we still get better every day. He marches to the right beat as far as getting better every day. That’s what it’s about.”

Composure and controlled aggression are two improvements for Cassioppi, who earned a United World Wrestling U23 World Championships bronze medal before the season.

“He is calmer,” Brands said. “I think there’s an understanding that his calm urgency is something that is going to have to win the day for him.”

Cassioppi is ranked third nationally by multiple outlets and part of a Big Ten Conference quartet in the top four spots. The conference has six heavyweights in the top 15 of the national rankings, with former Dubuque Wahlert state champion and Rutgers heavyweight Boone McDermott coming in 22nd to 24th. Ten Big Ten heavyweights are projected to be NCAA tournament qualifiers. Cassioppi isn’t concerned with the lists.

“I know the guys I’m going to have to beat and that’s what really matters,” Cassioppi said. “It doesn’t matter who’s ranked where. I know I’m going to have to beat Penn State. I know I’m going to have to beat Michigan. I know I’m going to have to beat Arizona State, Northwestern, everybody and anybody.”

Iowa (7-0) opens the conference dual season against Illinois (2-2) before traveling to West Lafayette, Ind., to wrestle Purdue (4-3) Sunday. Lee is the lone Hawkeye at 125 pounds in the initial probable lineup, as well as Cobe Siebrecht (157) and 174-pounder Nelson Brands. Siebrecht and Brands did not compete in the Soldier Salute.

Brody Teske and Cullan Schriever are both listed at 133. Cullan Schriever is coming off a Soldier Salute title, while Teske has not wrestled since winning the season opener against Cal Baptist.

“He’s coming along,” Brands said of Teske. “We’ll see him Friday or we’ll see him Sunday. He’s on track. We like where he’s at.”

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