Joe Sapora (2018) - Hall of Fame - University of Illinois Athletics

Joe Sapora

Induction:
2018

WRESTLING • 1928-30

Joe Sapora was Illinois’ first two-time NCAA Champion, Big Ten Champion and All-American at 115 pounds during the 1929 and 1930 seasons. He later captured two Amateur Athletic Union titles for the New York Athletic Club. Sapora went on to coach wrestling at City College in New York from 1932 to 1968. During his 36 years at City College, Sapora helped steer Henry Wittenberg to the heavyweight gold medal in the 1948 Olympics, and led Jacob Twersky, a blind wrestler, to the NCAA finals in 1942. He was inducted into the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame in 1994 and is a member of the CCNY Hall of Fame. Sapora died in 1992 at the age of 87.