Anthony Cassar: NCAA Heavyweight Champion, Wrestler to MMA Fighter
December 11, 2025
The story of Anthony Cassar‘s athletic career is one of the most captivating tales in wrestling because it shows how he kept going and got better as he got older. Cassar was born on March 9, 1996, and grew up in Rocky Hill, New Jersey. He is a former NCAA Division I heavyweight national champion, a rising mixed martial artist, and proof that believing in yourself can help you achieve your goals. His climb from an unknown high school wrestler to a national champion at Penn State and now a professional boxer shows that hard work can turn doubt into destiny.
Early Life and High School Breakthrough
Cassar started wrestling when he was just seven years old and competed in New Jersey’s very competitive wrestling scene. He went to Montgomery High School, where his first few years were full of problems. He didn’t qualify for the state tournament in any of his first three seasons.
Then, there was one of the most amazing comebacks in the history of New Jersey wrestling. Cassar finished 45–0 as a senior and won the NJSIAA State Championship at 195 lbs. He went from not qualifying to becoming an unbeaten state champion. That breakthrough was the start of his never-ending competitive drive.
Penn State Journey: Trusting the Process
Cassar signed with Penn State University while famed head coach Cael Sanderson was in charge. He joined the program amid its run of national titles. Starting was not an easy task for him. In 2014–15, he redshirted his first year. Then, because of an injury, he missed the 2016–17 season and was granted a medical hardship waiver to stay eligible longer.
Cassar was patient even though there were many top heavyweights in the ring. Instead of moving to a new school right away, he fought every day in one of the hardest wrestling rooms in America, accumulating strength, accuracy, and unshakable self-confidence until his time came.
The Historic 2018–2019 Season
Cassar’s breakthrough came in 2018–19 when he moved up to the heavyweight division (285 lbs) and seized Penn State’s starting role.
That season he delivered one of the greatest single-year performances in Penn State wrestling history:
- 30–1 overall record
- Big Ten Champion – defeating Minnesota superstar Gable Steveson, handing Steveson his first collegiate loss
- NCAA Division I National Champion – defeating Derek White (Oklahoma State) 4-3 in the finals
- First NCAA tournament appearance – and he won it all
His victory made him Penn State’s first heavyweight national champion since 1997, and solidified his place among the program’s greats.
Collegiate Achievements
- NCAA Division I National Champion (2019) – Heavyweight
- Big Ten Conference Champion (2019)
- NCAA All-American (2019)
- Academic All-Big Ten (2019)
- Key contributor to Penn State’s 2019 NCAA team title
Despite his short career, his influence will endure.
Wrestling Style and Competitive Identity
Cassar changed modern heavyweight wrestling by using athleticism and pressure. His success was not due to his size, but rather to:
- Timing and explosive assaults on the legs
- Unending speed and conditioning
- He demonstrated intelligence in understanding positions and controlling the mat.
- Great at concluding.
He won 22 out of 30 games that season, earning bonus points for 15 significant choices.
- 15 big choices.
- Two technical falls
- 5 pins
He always worked harder and outsmarted even the toughest competition.
Mindset: The Power of Patience
The strongest part of Cassar has always been his mind. He had to be disciplined and have faith in himself because he missed the state tournament three times and had to wait years for a chance to start in college. He put more effort into becoming ready than getting attention, believing that he would be ready when the time came.
And he was.
Transition to Mixed Martial Arts
Following his triumph in college, Cassar shifted his focus towards professional fighting. He signed with First Round Management and started training at American Top Team (ATT), which is one of the best MMA clubs in the world.
In December 2022, he made his professional MMA debut and won by arm-triangle choke in the first round. Cassar has never lost in his early MMA career. He has used outstanding takedowns, cage management, and conditioning to beat his opponents. His growth puts him in a good position to be a top heavyweight.
Legacy and Impact
Anthony Cassar’s story is defined by defying expectations:
- A state champion after never previously qualifying
- A national champion after years as a backup
- A wrestler who knocked off a future Olympic gold-medalist in the Big Ten finals
- A competitor is still climbing in a new sport
His 2019 NCAA run is remembered as one of the most inspiring championship journeys in recent wrestling history.
Summary
Born in 1996, Anthony Cassar went from a late-developing high school wrestler to an NCAA heavyweight champion at Penn State and is now a rising force in professional MMA. His career, powered by resilience, work ethic, and unwavering belief, proves that greatness doesn’t always arrive early, but it arrives right on time.
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