Anthony Cassar (born March 9, 1996) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler. He was an NCAA Division I champion and a Big Ten Conference champion at Penn State University, and a NJSIAA title holder as a high schooler.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | March 9, 1996 Rocky Hill, New Jersey, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 237 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Martial arts career | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | Heavyweight | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | American Top Team (2020–present)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wrestling | NCAA Division I Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Folkstyle | ||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Penn State | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Nittany Lion Wrestling Club | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Cael Sanderson | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Folkstyle career
editHigh school
editRaised in Rocky Hill, New Jersey,[2] Cassar started wrestling at around age 7 or 8.[3] He attended Montgomery High School in New Jersey. During his freshman, sophomore and junior years, he never qualified for state and compiled a record of 73 wins and 30 losses. In his senior year, he finally qualified for state 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.[4][5]
College
editAfter his performance as a high school senior, he committed to Penn State University.[6] He redshirted 2014-15 and compiled a record of 15-8 while wrestling unattached.[7] He originally missed his freshman and sophomore seasons due to an injury but was granted one more year of eligibility by the NCAA, so he only lost his freshman year but would compete as a sophomore in 2017–18. As a sophomore, he compiled a record of 16-2 during the regular season, with a Keystone Classic title[8] 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.[9][10]
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.[11] In the postseason, he made his way to the first-place finish at the Big Ten Championships with wins over the #6 and #7-ranked wrestlers and top-ranked Gable Steveson at the finale.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]
Cassar graduated with a record of 49 wins and three losses during his time as a Nittany Lion.[15]
Freestyle career
editAs a junior-level freestyle wrestler, Cassar was the 2015 World Team Member at 96 kilograms[16] and represented the USA at that year's World Championships, where he placed eighth.[17]
2019
editCassar made his senior level debut on December 22 at the US nationals, in an attempt to earn a shot at the Olympic Trials.[18] He dominantly won his first two bouts to reach the semifinals,[19] 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.[20]
2020
editCassar was scheduled to compete at the Last Chance Olympic Trials qualifier on March 27 at Millersville, Pennsylvania.[21] However, the event was postponed along with the Olympic Games and Trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22]
Mixed martial arts career
editOn May 30, 2020, it was announced that Cassar had signed an MMA management deal with First Round Management and is expected to make the transition after the 20' (21') Summer Olympics.[23][24] 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,[25][26] who is also expected to transition to mixed martial arts and train full-time at ATT after the Olympics.[27] Anthony was set to make his pro MMA debut on November 19, 2022, against Idrees Wasi.[28] Cassar would go on to win the bout via first round arm triangle choke.[29] 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).[30]
Mixed martial arts record
edit| 2 matches | 2 wins | 0 losses |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 2–0 | John Gianatasio II | Decision (unanimous) | Fury FC - Challenger Series 8 | October 22, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Idrees Wasi | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | iKON FC 6 | December 2, 2022 | 1 | 3:11 | Kissimmee, Florida, United States |
Freestyle record
edit
NCAA record
edit
Stats
editCollegiate awards & records
edit- Junior
NCAA Division I (285 lbs)- Big Ten Conference (285 lbs)
- Team's first NCAA heavyweight champion in the century
References
edit- ^ Justin Basch (June 3, 2020). Anthony Cassar & Bo Nickal on Current Training in Miami | BASCHAMANIA Ep. 66 – via YouTube.
- ^ Galli, Gianna. "Anthony Cassar's journey through hardship inspires those around him", Daily Collegian, April 26, 2020. Accessed March 10, 2022. "The moment Cael Sanderson randomly assigned three-time NCAA Champion Bo Nickal and NCAA Champion Anthony Cassar to room together freshman year, Nickal knew Cassar was going to make history.... But that's what makes the Rocky Hill, New Jersey, native's story so intriguing."
- ^ UCAN (April 29, 2021). Nutrition Q&A With Elite Wrestler Anthony Cassar – via YouTube.
- ^ "CONGRATULATIONS: Members of Our Diocesan Family!". nynjoca.org. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Anthony Cassar - Wrestling". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "2014 Recruiting Class Rankings". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ Hayes, Elton (January 7, 2020). "Penn State wrestling | National champ Cassar out for season". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ Sauertieg, Clay (November 19, 2017). "Penn State Crowns Seven Champions at Keystone Classic". Black Shoe Diaries. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Penn State Wrestling's Anthony Cassar Reportedly Granted Two More Years Of Eligibility". Onward State. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ Collegian, Ben Jenkins | The Daily (December 30, 2018). "One year ago: How the 2018 Southern Scuffle changed Shakur Rasheed's Penn State wrestling career". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Nittany Lions Win 2019 Southern Scuffle". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "2019 Big Ten Wrestling Championships". Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Anthony Cassar Wins 2019 NCAA Heavyweight Title". Roar Lions Roar. March 23, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ Collegian, Jake Aferiat | The Daily (January 14, 2020). "Penn State wrestling's Anthony Cassar announces the end of his college wrestling career". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ LLC, ACS. "Anthony Cassar (Unknown) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ Guillotine1 (June 12, 2015). "2015 UWW Junior World Team Trials". The Guillotine. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ emmanuel. "Junior World Championships". United World Wrestling. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ "Senior Nationals men's freestyle preview: Exciting battles expected for coveted Olympic Team Trials bids". Team USA. December 18, 2019. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Senior Nationals Finals Are Set For Sunday". www.flograppling.com. December 21, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ PennLive, Jim Carlson | Special to (January 7, 2020). "Shoulder injuries end seasons for Penn State wrestlers Anthony Cassar, Kyle Conel". pennlive. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Millersville to host 2020 Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier". Millersville. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "POSTPONED – Last Chance Olympic Trials Qualifier will be moved to new date and site to be determined". Team USA. March 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Penn State wrestling champion Anthony Cassar signs MMA deal". 247Sports. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Collegian, Jake Aferiat | The Daily (May 30, 2020). "Former Penn State wrestler Anthony Cassar signs MMA management deal". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Jorge Masvidal on Instagram: "Working on my striking with @nobickal1 @ant_thechamp_cassar #andnew #frm #americantopteam #theresurrection"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Bo Nickal on Instagram: "Caged Animals."". Instagram. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "UFC contender Jorge Masvidal says Bo Nickal is next MMA star". 247Sports. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Prospect Anthony Caesar announces Pro MMA debut date". Instagram. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
- ^ "iKON FC 6: Gooden vs Rodrigues Results". MMA Sucka. December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
- ^ "Fury Challenger Series 8 | MMA Event".
- ^ "Anthony Cassar". Sherdog.
External links
edit- Anthony Cassar at Sherdog
- Anthony Cassar at the International Wrestling Database
- Professional MMA record for Anthony Cassar from Sherdog
- Anthony Cassar at Tapology.com
