Sammy Sasso

Sammy Sasso (born Samuel Sasso April 20, 2000) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who currently wrestles for The Ohio State University. As a collegiate athlete for Ohio State University, he's a four-time NCAA Division I All-American, and two-time Big Ten champion. In freestyle, he was a 2023 member of the USA Wrestling Senior National Team.

High school Sasso attended Nazareth Area High School in Nazareth, Pennsylvania from 2014 to 2018. During his time at Nazareth High School, Sammy Sasso established himself as a notable wrestler with a strong track record marked by skill and consistency. Sasso was a four-time Pennsylvania state place winner and two-time state champion at 138 lbs and 145 lbs. Sasso went 135-3 during his final three high school seasons and had an overall record of 180-11. He holds several records for Nazareth Area High School including: most takedowns per season (275), most takedowns per career (793), most pins per career (88), most wins per season (50), most career matches (191), and most career wins (180).

In addition, Sasso was an Ironman, Super 32, Beast of the East and Flo Nationals champion. He earned the No. 3 seed for the NCAA Championships in the 149-pound weight class, but did not compete at the 2020 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships after the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With his title, Sasso became the 56th individual Big Ten champion in Ohio State history. The match was tied at 1-1 after a quick escape in the third period, and Sasso had an advantage in riding time with 1:03. He wrestled his way through the bracket to the final bout, where he wrestled Austin Gomez of Wisconsin. After this performance, he was declared the Big Ten Conference's Wrestler of the Week. Sasso maintained his undefeated record in Big Ten duals, however, his crowning achievement came at the 2023 Big Ten Championships, where he won the title at 149 pounds and received the distinction of being named 2023 All-Big Ten. The first period of the match was marked by several stalemates, with neither wrestler managing to secure a point.

Personal life

2023 shooting On August 18, 2023, Sasso was shot during a carjacking in an alley near Ohio State University's campus. Two individuals approached Sasso when one pulled out a handgun, demanding his vehicle. That suspect then shot Sasso in the stomach before getting into the driver's seat and driving away with the other suspect. The next day, August 19, 2023 Sasso underwent another surgery to remove the bullet, which had lodged near his spine causing severe nerve damage. After spending 41 days in the hospital, Sasso was released, immediately returning to visit his Ohio State teammates.

2025 arrest Police arrested Sasso in his hometown, Nazareth, on July 16, 2025, on gun and drug charges after being pulled over for expired vehicle registration.