A New Chapter for Detroit Wrestling
Owen Westbrook and Joe Russo-Casarez step into new leadership roles as Detroit wrestling continues to grow.
By MDWA Staff
DETROIT — Coaching transitions at Cass Technical High School and University of Detroit Jesuit High School & Academy mark a new chapter for two Detroit wrestling programs.
The moves provide continuity at Cass Tech while creating a unique connection between two programs that have become important pieces of Detroit’s growing wrestling community.
Westbrook Takes the Reins at Cass Tech
For Owen Westbrook, taking over the Cass Tech boys program is a continuation of work that began five years ago.
A Troy Athens graduate, Westbrook has served as an assistant at Cass Tech since the program’s first season. He has been part of building the program from the ground up, developing athletes and helping establish wrestling at one of Detroit’s largest high schools.
Now he’ll lead it.
Westbrook succeeds Joe Russo-Casarez as boys head coach, providing continuity while allowing Cass Tech’s growing boys and girls programs to have dedicated head coaches.
Rather than bringing in someone unfamiliar with the program, Cass Tech is handing the boys team to someone who has helped build it from the beginning.
Russo-Casarez Takes on a Unique Dual Role
After serving as head coach of both the boys and girls programs at Cass Tech, Joe Russo-Casarez will become head wrestling coach at U of D Jesuit while remaining head girls wrestling coach at Cass Tech.
The arrangement creates a unique connection between a DPSCD public school in Midtown and a private Jesuit school on Detroit’s northwest side.
A Boys Town High School alumnus, Russo-Casarez has credited wrestling with changing the direction of his own life. That experience has influenced his work in Detroit, where his role has grown beyond coaching one team to creating opportunities through Beat the Streets Detroit, MDWA, USA Wrestling and partnerships with schools and community programs.
At U of D Jesuit, he’ll lead the boys program at a school that has also become an important partner and host for wrestling opportunities in Detroit.
At Cass Tech, he’ll continue leading a girls program that has grown rapidly and helped make history by fielding Detroit’s first all-girls dual wrestling team.
Continuity and Growth
The two moves are connected.
Westbrook has spent five years helping build Cass Tech and is now positioned to take ownership of the boys program. Russo-Casarez can focus specifically on the continued development of the Cass Tech girls while beginning a new chapter at U of D Jesuit.
It also reflects something larger happening in Detroit wrestling.
Programs are growing. More athletes are entering the sport. Girls wrestling continues to expand. Schools are becoming more connected through competition, training and community partnerships.
That growth requires coaches who are willing to stay involved, develop athletes and build programs for the long term.
For MDWA, these transitions represent another step forward for wrestling in the city.
Congratulations to Owen Westbrook and Joe Russo-Casarez on their new roles, and to the athletes at Cass Tech and U of D Jesuit as they begin the next chapter of their programs.
Different schools. Different teams. One Detroit wrestling community. Kids first.
Have a question, feedback, have a wrestling story worth telling or want to support BTS? Contact J.R. Casarez at jrusso@btsdetroit.org.
