Anthony Cassar (born March 9, 1996) is an American
freestyle wrestler
Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling. It is one of two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games, along with Greco-Roman wrestling, Greco-Roman. scholastic wrestling, High school wrestling and men's collegiate wrestling in the U ...
and graduated
folkstyle wrestler. He was an
NCAA Division I champion and a
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Fa ...
champion at
Penn State University
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsyl ...
, and a
NJSIAA title holder as a
high schooler.
Folkstyle career
High school
Raised in
Rocky Hill, New Jersey, Cassar started wrestling at around age 7 or 8. He attended
Montgomery High School in
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
. During his
freshman
A freshman, fresher, first year, or colloquially frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational in ...
,
sophomore
In the United States, a sophomore ( or ) is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of Post-secondary school, post-secondary educatio ...
and
junior years, he never qualified for
states
State most commonly refers to:
* State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory
**Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country
**Nation state, a ...
and compiled a record of 73 wins and 30 losses. In his
senior year, he finally qualified for
state
State most commonly refers to:
* State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory
**Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country
**Nation state, a ...
and became the fourth person in the history of the state to win the tournament after never qualifying before. He compiled an undefeated record of 43 wins and no losses in his final season and an 116–30 record overall.
College
After his performance as a high school
senior
Senior (shortened as Sr.) means "the elder" in Latin and is often used as a suffix for the elder of two or more people in the same family with the same given name, usually a parent or grandparent. It may also refer to:
* Senior (name), a surname ...
, he committed to
Penn State University
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsyl ...
. He
redshirted
Redshirt, in United States college athletics, is a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen their period of eligibility. Typically, a student's athletic eligibility in a given sport is four seasons, aligning with the ...
2014-15 and compiled a record of 15-8 while
wrestling
Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...
unattached. He originally missed his
freshman
A freshman, fresher, first year, or colloquially frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational in ...
and
sophomore
In the United States, a sophomore ( or ) is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of Post-secondary school, post-secondary educatio ...
seasons due to an injury but was granted one more year of eligibility by the
NCAA
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
, so he only lost his
freshman year but would compete as a
sophomore
In the United States, a sophomore ( or ) is a person in the second year at an educational institution; usually at a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of Post-secondary school, post-secondary educatio ...
in 2017–18. As a sophomore, he compiled a record of 16-2 during the regular season, with a Keystone Classic title and a third-place finish at the Southern Scuffle after being defeated by his teammate Shakur Rasheed. Despite his success, he was left on the bench for the postseason, with Rasheed as the starter.
His
next season, he moved up to heavyweight (285 pounds) and saw immediate success, posting a record of 21-1 during regular season with lone loss to Derek White at the Southern Scuffle's finals. In the postseason, he made his way to the first-place finish at the
Big Ten
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives in 1 ...
Championships with wins over the #6 and #7-ranked wrestlers and top-ranked
Gable Steveson at the finale. At the
2019 NCAA championships, he got the victory over multiple ranked wrestlers including
Steveson in the semifinals to make his way to the finale. In the finals, he avenged his regular season's loss on a dominant
major decision win over Derek White to claim the championship on his first trip to the
NCAA championships. In his
final season, he had posted a record of three wins and no losses but was affected by a shoulder injury while competing at a
freestyle event and subsequently announced his career as a
collegiate wrestler was over.
Cassar graduated with a record of 49 wins and three losses during his time as a
Nittany Lion.
Freestyle career
As a junior-level
freestyle wrestler
Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling. It is one of two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games, along with Greco-Roman wrestling, Greco-Roman. scholastic wrestling, High school wrestling and men's collegiate wrestling in the U ...
, Cassar was the 2015 World Team Member at 96 kilograms and represented the
USA at that year's World Championships, where he placed eighth.
2019
Cassar made his senior level debut on December 22 at the US nationals, in an attempt to earn a shot at the Olympic Trials. He dominantly won his first two bouts to reach the semifinals, where he was forced to abandon the match due to a shoulder injury and
forfeited his next contests too. This injury also ended his
senior season at
Penn State #Redirect Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with ca ...
.
2020
Cassar was scheduled to compete at the Last Chance Olympic Trials qualifier on March 27 at
Millersville, Pennsylvania
Millersville is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,629 and in 2021 it was estimated at 7,593. Millersville is home to Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
History
Origina ...
. However, the event was postponed along with the
Olympic Games
The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a Multi-s ...
and Trials due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
Mixed martial arts career
On May 30, 2020, it was announced that Cassar had signed an
MMA
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
management deal with First Round Management and is expected to make the transition after the
20' (21') Summer Olympics. He has been training at
American Top Team in the meantime, training with
UFC's welterweight contender
Jorge Masvidal and
Nittany Lion teammate and three-time
NCAA champion Bo Nickal, who is also expected to transition to
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...
and train full-time at
ATT after the
Olympics
The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competit ...
. Anthony was set to make his pro MMA debut on November 19, 2022, against Idrees Wasi. Cassar would go on to win the bout via first round arm triangle choke.
Anthony was next scheduled to fight John Gianatasio on October 22. 2023, he won the bout via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–0
, John Gianatasio II
, Decision (unanimous)
, Fury FC - Challenger Series 8
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Houston, Texas
Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–0
, Idrees Wasi
, Submission (arm-triangle choke)
, iKON FC 6
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 3:11
,
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Osceola County, Florida, Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 79,226. It is a principal city of the Greater Orlando, O ...
, United States
,
, -
Freestyle record
! colspan="7", Senior Freestyle Matches
, -
! Res.
! Record
! Opponent
! Score
! Date
! Event
! Location
, -
! style=background:white colspan=7 ,
, -
, Win
, 2-0
, align=left, Ceron Francisco
, style="font-size:88%", 10-2
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2, December 22, 2019
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2, 2019 Senior Nationals - US Olympic Trials Qualifier
, style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2,
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Tarrant County, Texas, Tarrant County, covering nearly into Denton County, Texas, Denton, Johnson County, Texas, Johnson, Parker County, Texas, Parker, and Wise County, Te ...
, -
, Win
, 1-0
, align=left, Jeremy Benton
, style="font-size:88%", TF 10–0
, -
NCAA record
! colspan="8", NCAA Division I Record
, -
! Res.
! Record
! Opponent
! Score
! Date
! Event
, -
! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 , End of 2019-2020 Season (senior year)
, -
, Win
, 49-3
, align=left, Jordan Wood
, style="font-size:88%", 9-4
, style="font-size:88%", December 6, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Lehigh Dual
, -
, Win
, 48-3
, align=left, Tanner Hall
, style="font-size:88%", 9-5
, style="font-size:88%", November 22, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Arizona State Dual
, -
, Win
, 47-3
, align=left, John Birchmeier
, style="font-size:88%", Fall
, style="font-size:88%", November 10, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Navy - Penn State Dual
, -
! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 , Start of 2019-2020 Season (senior year)
, -
! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 , End of 2018-2019 Season (junior year)
, -
! style=background:white colspan=6 ,
2019 NCAA championships at 285 lbs
, -
, Win
, 46-3
, align=left, Derek White
, style="font-size:88%", MD 10–1
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, March 21, 2019
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5,
2019 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
, -
, Win
, 45-3
, align=left,
Gable Steveson
, style="font-size:88%", 4-3
, -
, Win
, 44-3
, align=left, Trent Hillger
, style="font-size:88%", 4-0
, -
, Win
, 43-3
, align=left, Tate Orndorff
, style="font-size:88%", MD 10–2
, -
, Win
, 42-3
, align=left, Antonio Pelusi
, style="font-size:88%", Fall
, -
! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2019 Big Ten Conference at 285 lbs
, -
, Win
, 41-3
, align=left,
Gable Steveson
, style="font-size:88%", 4-3
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, Mar 9, 2019
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2019 Big Ten Championships
, -
, Win
, 40-3
, align=left, Conan Jennings
, style="font-size:88%", MD 10–2
, -
, Win
, 39-3
, align=left, David Jensen
, style="font-size:88%", 8-4
, -
, Win
, 38-3
, align=left, Jacob Aven
, style="font-size:88%", MD 12–4
, -
, Win
, 37-3
, align=left, Sam Schuyler
, style="font-size:88%", MD 16–5
, style="font-size:88%", February 24, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Buffalo - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 36-3
, align=left, Deuce Rachal
, style="font-size:88%", Fall
, style="font-size:88%", February 17, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Illinois Dual
, -
, Win
, 35-3
, align=left, Chase Beard
, style="font-size:88%", TF 21–6
, style="font-size:88%", February 15, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Michigan State - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 34-3
, align=left, Chase Singletary
, style="font-size:88%", MD 18–8
, style="font-size:88%", February 8, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Ohio State Dual
, -
, Win
, 33-3
, align=left,
Mason Parris
, style="font-size:88%", MD 19–8
, style="font-size:88%", February 1, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Michigan - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 32-3
, align=left, Fletcher Miller
, style="font-size:88%", 11-5
, style="font-size:88%", January 27, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Indiana Dual
, -
, Win
, 31-3
, align=left, Jacob Aven
, style="font-size:88%", MD 14–4
, style="font-size:88%", January 25, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Purdue Dual
, -
, Win
, 30-3
, align=left, David Jensen
, style="font-size:88%", 10-4
, style="font-size:88%", January 20, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Nebraska - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 29-3
, align=left, Trent Hillger
, style="font-size:88%", 11-5
, style="font-size:88%", January 13, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Wisconsin - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 28-3
, align=left, Conan Jennings
, style="font-size:88%", MD 12–2
, style="font-size:88%", January 11, 2019
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Northwestern Dual
, -
! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2019 Southern Scuffle at 285 lbs
, -
, Loss
, 27-3
, align=left, Derek White
, style="font-size:88%", 2-3
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, January 1, 2019
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, 2019 Southern Scuffle
, -
, Win
, 27-2
, align=left, Matt Voss
, style="font-size:88%", MD 14–6
, -
, Win
, 26-2
, align=left, Gannon Gremmel
, style="font-size:88%", MD 16–5
, -
, Win
, 25-2
, align=left, Ryan Cloud
, style="font-size:88%", MD 16–4
, -
, Win
, 24-2
, align=left, Jordan Earnest
, style="font-size:88%", MD 18–4
, -
, Win
, 23-2
, align=left, Brady Gilliland-Daniel
, style="font-size:88%", Fall
, style="font-size:88%", December 14, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Arizona State - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 22-2
, align=left, Jordan Wood
, style="font-size:88%", MD 12–3
, style="font-size:88%", December 2, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Lehigh - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 21-2
, align=left, Brandon Stokes
, style="font-size:88%", Fall
, style="font-size:88%", November 30, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Bucknell Dual
, -
! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2018 Keystone Classic at 285 lbs
, -
, Win
, 20-2
, align=left, Joseph Goodhart
, style="font-size:88%", MD 11–3
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, November 18, 2018
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3, 2018 Keystone Classic
, -
, Win
, 19-2
, align=left, Nick Nevills
, style="font-size:88%", 7-2
, -
, Win
, 18-2
, align=left, Ben Goldin
, style="font-size:88%", Fall
, -
, Win
, 17-2
, align=left, Billy Bolia
, style="font-size:88%", TF 17–2
, style="font-size:88%", November 11, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Kent State - Penn State Dual
, -
! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 , Start of 2018-2019 Season (junior year)
, -
! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 , End of 2017-2018 Season (sophomore year)
, -
, Win
, 16-2
, align=left,
Kollin Moore
, style="font-size:88%", 6-3
, style="font-size:88%", February 3, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Ohio State - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 15-2
, align=left, Anthony Messner
, style="font-size:88%", MD 16–5
, style="font-size:88%", January 28, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Rutgers Dual
, -
, Win
, 14-2
, align=left, David-Brian Whisler
, style="font-size:88%", MD 14–5
, style="font-size:88%", January 21, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Maryland Dual
, -
, Win
, 13-2
, align=left, Nick May
, style="font-size:88%", MD 16–2
, style="font-size:88%", January 14, 2018
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Michigan State Dual
, -
! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2018 Southern Scuffle at 197 lbs
, -
, Win
, 12-2
, align=left, Stephen Loiseau
, style="font-size:88%", 4-1
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, January 1, 2018
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5, 2018 Southern Scuffle
, -
, Win
, 11-2
, align=left, Scottie Boykin
, style="font-size:88%", 9-7
, -
, Loss
, 10-2
, align=left, Shakur Rasheed
, style="font-size:88%", 4-6
, -
, Win
, 10-1
, align=left, Stephen Loiseau
, style="font-size:88%", 4-1
, -
, Win
, 9-1
, align=left, Tristan Sponseller
, style="font-size:88%", 13-10
, -
, Win
, 8-1
, align=left, Spencer Irick
, style="font-size:88%", MD 16–5
, style="font-size:88%", December 17, 2017
, style="font-size:88%", Indiana - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 7-1
, align=left, Jake Jakobsen
, style="font-size:88%", 8-3
, style="font-size:88%", December 3, 2017
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Lehigh Dual
, -
! style=background:white colspan=6 , 2017 Keystone Classic at 197 lbs
, -
, Win
, 6-1
, align=left, Frank Mattiace
, style="font-size:88%", 7-4
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, November 18, 2017
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4, 2017 Keystone Classic
, -
, Win
, 5-1
, align=left, Matt McCutcheon
, style="font-size:88%", 5-6
, -
, Win
, 4-1
, align=left, Alec Schenk
, style="font-size:88%", 12-5
, -
, Win
, 3-1
, align=left, Robert Ng
, style="font-size:88%", MD 12–4
, -
, Win
, 2-1
, align=left, Mark Tracy
, style="font-size:88%", 10-4
, style="font-size:88%", November 17, 2017
, style="font-size:88%", Penn State - Binghamton Dual
, -
, Loss
, 1-1
, align=left, Garrett Hoffman
, style="font-size:88%", 8-11
, style="font-size:88%", November 12, 2017
, style="font-size:88%", Bucknell - Penn State Dual
, -
, Win
, 1-0
, align=left, Rocco Caywood
, style="font-size:88%", 10-3
, style="font-size:88%", November 9, 2017
, style="font-size:88%", Army - Penn State Dual
, -
! style=background:lighgrey colspan=6 , Start of 2017-2018 Season (sophomore year)
Stats
! Season
! Year
! School
! Rank
! Weigh Class
! Record
! Win
! Bonus
, -
, 2020
, Senior
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3,
Penn State University
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsyl ...
, #2 (DNQ)
, style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2, 285
, 3-0
, 100.00%
, 33.33%
, -
, 2019
, Junior
, #2 (1st)
, 30-1
, 96.77%
, 70.97%
, -
, 2018
, Sophomore
, #7 (DNQ)
, 197
, 16-2
, 88.89%
, 27.78%
, -
, colspan=5 bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", Career
, bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", 49-3
, bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", 94.23%
, bgcolor="LIGHTGREY", 53.85%
Collegiate awards & records
*;Junior
**
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest division of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athlet ...
(285 lbs)
**
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference (stylized B1G, formerly the Western Conference and the Big Nine Conference, among others) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference in the United States. Founded as the Intercollegiate Conference of Fa ...
(285 lbs)
**
Team's first NCAA heavyweight champion in the century
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassar, Anthony
Living people
1996 births
Montgomery High School (New Jersey) alumni
People from Rocky Hill, New Jersey
Penn State Nittany Lions wrestlers
Sportspeople from Somerset County, New Jersey
American male sport wrestlers
21st-century American sportsmen