Whatever happened to Cassio Pero

By ANDRE’ MORGAN
Illinois Matmen

What ever happened to Cassio Pero. Quick, strong, and smart. If you could design a wrestler from scratch, chances are he would come out looking and wrestling like Cassio Pero. From the moment he entered the Twisters wrestling room, you could tell he was marked for greatness. The youngest son of a high school head coach, Pero was a student of the sport from an early age.

Winning four kids level state titles, the state tournament outstanding wrestler award, and numerous national awards, Pero followed his older brother (Jason) to Mt. Carmel. By his senior season he had helped lead MC to a state runner-up finish and captured the 125-pound title in dominating fashion.

Staying in the state at the University of Illinois to wrestle for Coach Mark Johnson, by sophomore year he was a National Qualifier and an All American.

Pero did coach on the college level for several years but is now retired from wrestling. He has a Masters degree in business, works in banking, and recently married and relocated to Houston, Texas.

Name: Cassio Pero

Age: 33

Where do you live today? Houston, TX

Married: Yes

Children: None

Your Kids Team: Harvey Twisters

Your High School Team: Mt. Carmel H.S. (Chicago)

Your College Team: University of Illinois

What years did you wrestle H.S. Varsity & Weight Classes: 1999-2002 (103, 112, 112, 125)

What years did you wrestle College & Weight Classes: 2003-2007 (133, 141)

Highest Placement in Kids: 4x State Champion, All American

Highest Placement in H.S.: 1st Place – State Champion

Highest Placement in College: 7th Place – All American

Your Kids Coach: Quintroy Harrell

Your High School Coach: Bill Weick

Your College Coach: Mark Johnson

Greatest accomplishment in wrestling: H.S. state championship senior year, defeating two returning state champs to claim the title; and college All-American season my redshirt sophomore year

Why did you start wrestling? Father was a wrestling fanatic, I started at age four

Who influenced you the most in wrestling? My brothers, Steve Williams, and Tony Davis

Do you still compete in wrestling? No

What other sports are you doing? Golf

What do you weigh today? 180

If you could change one thing in your wrestling career it would be: Cutting weight; I would cut less weight and wrestle at peak performance through high school and college

What do you do professionally for a living today? Banking

Do you coach or officiate? No

How did wrestling change or better you? Mental toughness, determination, hard work ethic

Name one match that you lost that you should of won? There aren’t many matches I’ve lost that I felt like I could not win

Who was your biggest rival in H.S.? Joe Gomez

Who was your biggest rival in college? Alex Tsirtsis