The first Casadaban wrestled for Brother Martin in the mid-70s, and the family is still going strong.

• Emile started the Casadaban wrestling tradition for two years on Elysian Fields before completing high school elsewhere in 1977.
• Emile's younger brother, James, graduated in 1979, the year the Crusaders won their first state championship.
• Mike Casadaban, cousin of Emile and James, finished in 1976.
• Other cousins were Maurice ('78), Rene ('82), and Eugene ('83).

This generation experienced the Casadaban Curse - none of them finished higher than second at the state tournament.

• 1976: Mike 2nd 132 lbs.
• 1978: Maurice 2nd 145.
• 1979: James 2nd 138.
• 1982: Rene 3rd 126.
• 1983: Eugene 2nd 138.

Jim Casadaban explains the attractions of wrestling.

• "I was too small for football and not tall enough for basketball."
• You can find your niche in wrestling regardless of your size if you're a good athlete. "We're a pretty competitive family."
• "Wrestling's a grind of a sport. There's not a ton of people in the stands. You gotta hate to lose and be competitive." Legendary wrestler Dan Gable summarized the sport: "Once you've wrestled, everything else in life is easy."
• You compete individually. There are no teammates to pass the ball to or block for you. So you develop self-confidence.
• The coach can't play favorites. If you win a wrestle-off, you earn the spot in the lineup.
• You can make varsity as a freshman and compete for a state title immediately.

The Casadabans began their wrestling careers under Coach Ray Charbonneau.

• Ray brought the northern style of wrestling from Schenectady NY when Dixie was not respected in the sport.
• Charbonneau installed a demanding conditioning program and stressed the basic moves, which he drilled daily.
• James again: "He was all about solid technique, controlling your opponent. He was real big on grip and hand fighting to frustrate the opponent. All Casadabans have big hands. Our grip is phenomenal. If we locked on to somebody, we could control that person."

While in college, James became one of the first volunteer coaches at Brother Martin along with his cousin Maurice. Jim has coached the Crusader Wrestling Club since its inception and continues his long career as an LHSAA wrestling official.

Taylor Casadaban 2004

The second generation of the clan ended the Casadaban Curse.

• 2003: Taylor (Emile's son) 5th 152.
• 2004: James (Jim's son) 1st 103; Taylor 1st 160.
• 2005: James 4th 119; Andrew (Jim's son) 5th 103.
• 2006: James 1st 140, Andrew 5th 119.
• 2007: Jesse (Emile's son) 1st 145, Andrew 4th 130.
• 2008: Andrew 1st 135.

Maurice's son, Dominick, a sophomore, continues the family tradition in 2011.