By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Anthony Cassar established himself as the greatest wrestler in Montgomery High School history in 2014.
This summer, he’s finding out how far wrestling can take him.
“I haven’t done much traveling outside the tri-state area,” Cassar said. “It seems like that’s changing now.”
The MHS graduate is picking up his frequent flyer miles thanks to his prowess on the mats. He’s in Madrid, Spain, this week to compete in a Grand Prix event that has senior level wrestlers.
“It won’t just be kids my age,” Cassar said. “It’s good experience internationally.”
Cassar has been training for it as the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. After his week in Spain, Cassar will return to the Olympic Training Center in his final preparation for to wrestle on the U.S. national team for the Junior World Team Championships from Aug. 11-16 in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Cassar said. “It’s a great opportunity. It’s international experience. It’s moving past the collegiate level. It’s pretty exciting.”
Cassar is not just representing Penn State University, where he will be a redshirt freshman, he is going there with the idea that he is representing Montgomery as well.
“I know where it started,” Cassar said. “I haven’t forgotten.”
Cassar qualified for worlds by first winning the 96 kilogram division at the U.S. Junior Nationals in Las Vegas. The top eight from junior nationals advance to the World Team Trials in Madison, Wisc. Each division holds a challenge tournament and the winner then wrestles the junior national champion for the right to represent the U.S. at the Junior Worlds. Cassar took advantage of the bye from winning junior nationals and won the best-of-three finals, 12-2 and 10-0, over Jacob Seely of the Northern Colorado Wrestling Club.
“It was real big,” Cassar said of the bye to the finals. “I didn’t know that was one of the perks. I knew there was a next step. I didn’t know I would have a bye to the finals and have that advantage.”
Cassar was coming off his first year at Penn State. He redshirted behind the team’s top wrestler, but used the experience gained over the year to build on his title season at Montgomery.
“It was definitely a big jump, coming from high school at Montgomery, which is not a big program, to the best in the world,” Cassar said. “I wanted to be around the best guys. Last summer was pretty tough, taking the bumps and bruises. I trusted in the process and God that all would work out. I started to get better.”
His improvement continued throughout the season. He took the step up to the college ranks and further developed as a wrestler.
“I redshirted this past year,” he said. “I wrestled in open tournaments. Redshirts choose which ones to go to. I went to as many as I could. I improved each and every one. It helped me improve and led me to the freestyle season.
“I really enjoyed it,” he added. “I saw a lot of places to improve on. I have a strong faith that I will improve. I’m in the best room with the best guys. It was a learning experience. I had a lot of fun. I learned about my strengths and weaknesses that I can improve on every day.”
With the college season over, Cassar did not stop with his work. He wanted to challenge himself more. The junior nationals presented that opportunity.
“I just knew I wanted to wrestle freestyle after the collegiate season,” Cassar said. “I asked around and followed my teammates’ lead. Once I won junior nationals, I knew what the path was. Then I just knew what I needed to do.”
Cassar has used his opportunities beyond college to show his growth. He has maintained a routine and kept himself on a climb.
“I’m working hard every single day,” he said. “I continue to gain confidence. I felt great in the junior nationals. I could show everyone I was working hard and improving.
“At junior nationals, there were a bunch of guys that were ranked in the top 10 in high school. They had better stats than me. Derek White, the No. 1 195-pounder, I pinned him. Marcus Harrington, an Iowa recruit, I pinned him. Jacob Seely, another top 10 guy, I beat him. I showed I’m a better wrestler.”
Cassar hasn’t stopped striving for lofty goals. Morgan McIntosh, who wrestled ahead of him at 197 pounds and won the Big Ten championship at that weight, will be returning this year.
“I work with him,” Cassar said. “I work with him a lot, more often during the season. I work with Jake Varner more often, probably three times a week. He’s steady in the room. I work with him, and I’m working with Eric Thompson and Quentin Wright and Coach Cael (Sanderson), so a bunch of the bigger guys.
“My personal plan is to take the spot at 197, beat McIntosh in a wrestle-off, and the lineup will adapt after that. We’ll see what happens.”
Cassar wouldn’t be able to aim that high if he hadn’t felt he’d improved so much. In every aspect, he has grown over the last year.
“Definitely confidence and in terms of actually wrestling, being more offensive is the main thing, not waiting around,” Cassar said. “Coach Cael and the other coaches have helped me set up my shots more and take more shots. They’ve helped me be more offensive, which has helped me get better.”
There’s no slowing down Cassar. He is traveling the world to compete this summer, something that he foresees helping him down the road.
“When you compete in tournaments like that, like competing in the World Championships, it makes it easier to come back and compete in matches and NCAAs,” Cassar said. “To get in these big matches on big stages will make it easier. Freestyle is helping me. It’s improving my standup and neutral position. I’m working on being more offensive. The chance to compete at the Olympic Training Center will help and competing with the best in the world will lead me to success in the national season.”
Cassar is going further to get further in wrestling. He is trying to take advantage of every opportunity he has to compete, and the trips to Spain and Brazil will be highlights of his wrestling this summer. That the tournaments are in some popular travel destinations is a little bit of a bonus.
“Judging on the last two tournaments in Wisconsin and Vegas, I have to stay focused leading up to competition,” Cassar said. “After the competition, like in Wisconsin, you have a day or two of sightseeing. Leading up to the competition, it’s all business.”
