Steve Tassini was a four year starter at Fabius-Pompey High School, located near Syracuse, New York, where he amassed an 85-7 record in the days before quads, tri-meets and two-day tournaments. He was part of a League Championship and Class D Championship team, won 10 tournaments, three league titles, a Section 3 Class D Championship and was a two-year captain of his high school team.

Looking back, Steve recalls, "Staying focused on wrestling during high school provided the direction and the drive for achievement that I needed to get through some challenging years."

Steve's wrestling career essentially ended when he was diagnosed with mononucleosis mid-way through his senior year. He became the first wrestler on the Fabius "Wall-of Fame," and was presented the "I Dare You" award at graduation for leadership and perseverance. The Tily family provided daily support and a caring family life; his brother Rusty provided inspiration and direction for wrestling and beyond. Above all, Steve's mother, June Tassini, was the guiding spirit during those years.

Steve attended SUNY-Canton after high school. After two years of college in upstate NY, Steve moved to Waltham, Massachusetts where he started his career in engineering while continuing his education at Northeastern University and Emmanuel College. It was at this time that Steve turned to officiating in order to stay involved in wrestling. He found a helpful and organized group in the Massachusetts Interscholastic Officials Association (MIWOA). Learning to officiate would prove to be a challenge - mostly in clashes with coaches. Arguing with refs was foreign to Steve - it wasn't allowed on his high school team. Within two years Steve did his first Sectional Tournament under the supportive eyes of Bill White and Bill Farrington. In his third year, he officiated his first State Tournament and has officiated 34 straight years of MIAA Sectional Tournaments. He saw a streak of 31 straight-years of State Tournament end in 2014. He has officiated New England Tournaments, the Lowell Holidays, spent 20 years officiating the Marshfield Christmas Tournament and has enjoyed countless dual meets from Nauset to Lowell. All told, he has officiated well over 25,000 high school bouts (Varsity & JV).

In 2000, the long-time MIWOA secretary-treasurer retired and Steve took on the challenge of replacing perhaps the most organized person in the history of organizations - Eric Turner. The very next year Steve was elected to the commissioner's job along-side George Bossi. Since that time, Steve's free time has been filled with everything wrestling - seemingly year-round. Whether it be recruiting new officials; debating tactics with the MIAA; listening to coaches; organizing schedules with ADs; adjusting schedules with ADs; planning a banquet or an executive board meeting; creating a mentoring program; disciplining an official; ordering rules books or arm bands; organizing one of the three annual officials' training meetings; attending the coaches meeting or a league meeting; fielding 4000+ emails a year; or simply counseling an official on right from wrong - there is barely a day throughout the year where wrestling isn't part of his agenda. Thankfully Steve's employer and co-workers have been supportive to wrestling as well!

Steve's involvement as a wrestler, an official and as an administrator for over 45 years tells more about the great sport of wrestling than anything else. Steve credits his involvement in Massachusetts wrestling to the on-going support and love he received from his wife Sharon and his two daughters, Kristin and Jessilyn.

Steve adds, "It is a great honor to be involved with the sport of wrestling at any level. Wrestling does more good for people and makes more people good than anything. It is with humility and yet with great honor to be an inductee into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame - Massachusetts Chapter with such icons as George Bossi, Phil Grebinar, Bill White, Jim Peckham (to name a few) and to be in the class with Bruce Rich, Manny Costa, Neal Zonfrelli and Mike Pyle."

In recognition of his many years of service to the sport of wrestling, The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is honoring Steve Tassini with its Award for Lifetime Service to Wrestling.