Autumn Tomasello (nee Gordon) is the first-ever associate head coach of the John Carroll Women's Wrestling program. She began her role on August 31, 2022, entering her third year on the job in the 2024-25 academic year.Â
In the program's first campaign in 2023-24, Tomasello guided the program to success. The program was unveiled in front of a fantastic crowd in the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center on November 1, 2023. During the season, JCU notched three dual wins. Jordan Palmer, Talia Mitchell, and Delaney Burns all punched tickets to the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships.
Tomasello joined the Blue Streaks from nearby Lutheran West High School, where she spent the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Lutheran West stands out as the top girl's wrestling team in Northeast Ohio. The Longhorns have been pioneers in the sport by being one of the first schools to have coaches specifically for the girls program. Lutheran West proved to be instrumental in the sanctioning of girl's wrestling by the OHSAA in the spring of 2022.Â
As a wrestler, Autumn has a long list of accomplishments highlighted by a USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle National Championship in 2017. She was the runner-up at the same tournament in 2016. Â
In freestyle wrestling, Autumn placed 2nd at the prestigious Junior National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. She has also placed in the US Senior Nationals, the U23 World Team Trials, and the Junior World Team Trials. Â
Gordon is a Lancaster, Ohio native who wrestled at Lancaster High School. She matriculated to the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. She wrestled there for a time, but suffered a career-ending injury in college.Â
Additionally, Autumn is an active competitor in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She was a Junior World Champion, a senior World Bronze Medalist, and a Senior Pan Am Champion. Autumn will be competing in the World Championships once again in December 2022.Â
Gordon has also worked as a Personal Trainer and Jiu Jitsu Coach at RTSC Training Center and a trainer at Planet Fitness. In addition to her B.S. Biology with an Exercise Sports Science Minor from the University of the Cumberlands, she is pursuing a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.Â
John Carroll announced the launch of Women's Wrestling in July 2022. The Blue Streaks will begin competition in time for the 2023-24 academic year.
Autumn is married to Nathan Tomasello, an NCAA Champion and 4x Big Ten wrestler for Ohio State.Â
