Class of 2025
Nick Fanthorpe,
Naperville North/Iowa State University
Wrestler
Nick Fanthorpe started wrestling at eight years old for the Naperville Wrestling Club. He later joined the Fox Valley Wrestling Club and Martinez Fox Valley Elite Club under coach Jose Martinez. Nick was a four-time IKWF State Champion and was the recipient of the Outstanding Wrestler Award his final season.
He went on to wrestle at Naperville North under coaches Tom Champion, Tom Arlis, a 2008 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee, and assistant coach John Fiore. Nick finished his high school career with a record of 155-10, was a three-time Class AA state finalist and two-time state champion, winning in 2003 at 103 pounds and in 2005 at 119 pounds, while taking second at 112 pounds in 2004. He earned the Class AA Outstanding Wrestler Award his senior season.
Nick attended Iowa State University where he qualified for the NCAA Championships each year. During his career at Iowa State, he achieved All-American honors in 2008 at 133 pounds. He was a two-time Big 12 Champion (2008 and 2009 at 133 pounds) and a three-time Team Big 12 Champion (2007-2009).
He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Community and Regional Planning and was selected to the Academic All-Big 12 first team and was a NWCA Scholar All-American (2008, 2009 and 2010). Nick was also the recipient of the team’s annual Total Commitment Award all four years that he competed for Iowa State.
He was coached at Iowa State by Cael Sanderson, Bobby Douglas, Kevin Jackson and assistant coaches Cody Sanderson, Casey Cunningham and Chris Bono.
Following his college career Nick wrestled for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club in State College, Pennsylvania. He was a 2011 World Teams Trials qualifier at 60 kg and a 2014 World Teams Trials 5th place finisher at 65 kg.
He joined the Penn State University wrestling staff from 2012-2014 as an assistant coach where they received the Big Ten and NCAA team championships both years.
Nick currently resides in Naperville with his wife, Erin, and son, Wells.
