Tucked away in Terrapins 141-pound wrestler Billy Rappo’s home in Holland, Pennsylvania, there used to be a small VHS tape with the grainy quality and static noise that distinguish the antique. It had footage from Billy’s first-ever wrestling match when he was 4 years old.
He even wore light-up sneakers during the competition.
His family watched the match — a victory in extra time for Billy — countless times before the cassette broke about five years ago. The tape brought the family together around the television, just as wrestling had united the five Rappo brothers.
For the Rappos, wrestling has been a constant in their lives.
“My first memories of wrestling are just my memories, I think,” Billy said.
All five siblings, each separated by two years, have gone on to wrestle at Division I schools. Rick and Mark attended Penn, learning under current Terps assistant coach and former Penn head coach Rob Eiter. Mike went to North Carolina, and Matt wrestled at Bloomsburg. Billy, the youngest, is now in his fourth year in College Park.
“They’re one of the most successful families of wrestling in the state of Pennsylvania,” Terps coach Kerry McCoy said. “It’s one of those things where it’s helped [Billy] open his eyes to the next level.”
Before each sibling left for college, Pennsylvania became the Rappo family’s territory. After his brothers won numerous titles, Billy accomplished even more.
As a junior, he captured the state title at 103 pounds. He then capped his high school career with a dominant 12-0 victory at 113 pounds to clinch his second straight state title.
“We were thrilled for him,” said Margaret Rappo, Billy’s mother. “It was huge for Bill to get a second title; he worked his butt off for it.”
But before the accolades, Billy endured the punishment that accompanies being the youngest sibling. The brothers would often mess with him, Billy said, giving him a football and instructing him to run to the other side of the room. They would coordinate attacks, table-topping or dogpiling him before he reached his final destination.
“It was all in good fun and love — you know, boys will be boys,” Margaret said. “They were together all the time.”
Having overcome the noogies and the bruises, Billy sees a clear connection between his brothers’ physicality and his wrestling success. Growing up, Billy would almost exclusively grapple with Matt because they were closest in age and size. But now that he’s caught up in size, he feels comfortable battling any of his brothers.
The teasing wasn’t the only thing that made growing up with four older brothers tough, though. While he had a participation trophy from his first victory, captured in one of Margaret’s all-time favorite photos of 4-year-old Billy smiling ear-to-ear, he began to envy his brothers’ collection of hardware.
“As they got bigger trophies, he wanted more,” Margaret said. “He just looked at his and wanted it to be bigger.”
After watching his brothers wrestle for years while moving along in his own career, Billy picked up different wrestling styles. His brothers would critique him, Margaret said, treating him like their protege.
Now, his style represents a blend of their own.
“I was always learning new things and seeing wrestling like the different types of styles of wrestling,” Billy said. “I developed a style that’s a little of each and every one of them.”
Billy also said they helped him become more accustomed to big stages, unlike many of his competitors. For years, Billy spent his weekends with his family, including his grandparents, watching match after match, all the way from lightweights to heavyweights.
Long after his brothers finished their college grappling careers, the youngest is still carrying the family legacy. While the redshirt junior hasn’t been able to hold onto the 141-pound starting slot this season over Alfred Bannister, Billy has performed well at open tournaments, tied for the lead on the Terps with 17 victories.
These days, Billy has crawled out from his older brothers’ shadows. He has just as many trophies and is competing in the Big Ten, the most elite conference in wrestling.
For that, he thanks his parents and brothers.
“I owe a lot of what I’ve become to my family, honestly,” Billy said. “We had a ton of fun as kids, and it helped make us each other.”
