Anthony Cassar Season 2018-19

Parents: John and Florence Cassar
Major: Psychology

Anthony Cassar heads into the 2019-20 campaign with his sight set on another outstanding year.  Cassar, who was granted another year by the NCAA after winning the NCAA 285-pound title in Pittsburgh last season, gets the opportunity to compete once again in a Blue and White singlet.

CAREER NOTES:
Academic: Academic All-Big Ten in 2019...NWCA First Team National All-Academic.
Athletic: 2019 Big Ten Champion (285), 2019 NCAA National Champion (285)...First-team All-Big Ten (2019)...First-team All-American (2019)...UWW Junior Nationals Champion...UWW World Team Trials Champion.

2018-19 / JUNIOR SEASON: 
Season: Rolled to a 30-1 overall record...Had 15 majors, two tech falls and five pins...Went 14-0 in duals, including a 9-0 mark in Big Ten duals...Big Ten Champion (285) in first trip to tournament...NCAA Champion and All-American (285) in first trip to NCAA Tournament.
Kent State (11/11): Made heavyweight debut with 17-2 technical fall over Billy Bolia. Keystone Classic (11/18): Won Keystone Classic with 3-0 run, including wins over two ranked wrestlers, one an 11-3 major over #14 Joey Goodhart of Drexel. Bucknell (11/30): Pinned  Brandon Stokes in just 0:32. Lehigh (12/2): Notched impressive 12-3 major over #6 Jordan Wood in dual victory. Arizona State (12/14): Closed out Penn State’s 41-3 win over visiting Arizona State by pinning Brady Daniel (5:18). Southern Scuffle (1/1-2): Placed second at the Southern Scuffle with a 4-1 mark and four majors...Majored #16 Matt Voss of GMU in semis and then dropped close 3-2 decision to #3 Derek White of Oklahoma State in final. Northwestern (1/11): Majored #19 Conan Jennings. Wisconsin (1/13):  Dominated #9 Trent Hillger in Rec Hall. Nebraska (1/20): Downed #14 David Jensen 10-4. Indiana (1/27): Downed Fletcher Miller, 11-5, in road dual. Michigan (2/1): Dominated #8 Mason Parris, 19-8, getting the major in BJC Dual victory. Ohio State (2/8): Dominated #19 Chase Singletary in Penn State’s 28-9 dual win on in Columbus, posting an 18-8 major. Illinois (2/17): Pinned Deuce Rachal in the first period (2:06) in dual victory.
Big Ten Championship (3/9-10, 4-0, Champion, NCAA qualifier): Stormed the Big Ten field at 285 to win his first Big Ten Championship in Minnesota...Went 4-0 with two majors, including one over #14 Conan Jennings of Northwestern in semifinals...Beat #1 Gable Steveson of Minnesota 4-3 in finals to win the title.
NCAA Championships (3/21-23, 5-0, Champion, All-American): Rolled through the field in Pittsburgh to win the NCAA title in his first-ever trip to the championships...Pinned Antonio Pelusi of F&M, majored #15 Tate Orndorff of Utah Valley 10-2, shut out #7 Trent Hillger of Wisconsin, once again beat #3 Gable Steveson of Minnesota, 4-3, in the national semifinals...Avenged his only loss of the year but dominating #1 Derek White of Oklahoma State in the NCAA finals, posting a 10-1 major to become an NCAA Champion.

2017-18 / SOPHOMORE SEASON: 
Season: Posted a 16-2 overall record at 197, including an 8-1 mark in dual meets...Had five majors and went 5-0 in Big Ten duals.
Army (11/9): Posted a 10-3 decision over Rocco Caywood in collegiate debut. Keystone Classic (11/19): Went 4-0 with a major to win the Keystone Classic, including wins over two ranked wrestlers...Downed #12 Frank Mattiace of Penn in the finals. Lehigh (12/3): Posted an 8-3 win over Jake Jakobsen. Indiana (12/17): Won Big Ten dual debut with a 16-5 major over Spencer Irick. Southern Scuffle (1/1-2): Placed third at 2018 Southern Scuffle with 4-1 record, including a win over #15 Scottie Boykin of Chattanooga. Michigan State (1/14): Recorded a 16-3 major over Nick May. Maryland (1/21): Majored David-Brian Whisler. Rutgers (1/28): Majored Anthony Messner 16-5. Ohio State (2/3): Convincing 6-3 win over #1 Kollin Moore on 2/3, handing the Buckeye his first loss of the year and helping secure Penn State’s 19-18 win over OSU in Rec Hall...Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week (2/6) for his efforts after that victory.

2015-16/2016-17: Did not compete due to injury.

2014-15 / TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON: 
Season: Redshirt season...Went 15-8 unattached in open tournaments.

HIGH SCHOOL / PERSONAL: 
Became only the fourth person in New Jersey state history to win a state title after never qualifying for the state tournament, turning the trick as a senior...Went 45-0 his senior season, winning county, district, regional and state titles in the process...Amassed a 116-30 career record in high school...Was the 2015 96 kg Junior National Freestyle Champion and was a member of the 2015 Junior World Team...Has three brothers, three sisters and three stepsisters.