BWI's Wrestling Notebook (Updates on Mark Hall, Anthony Cassar, Jered Cortez + more)

[Tim Owen/BWI staff]

Inside the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex difficult decisions are still being contemplated as head coach Cael Sanderson continues working toward a final postseason roster. At the link there are comments about Mark Hall's redshirt, Jered Cortez's injury, the future at 133 and a progress update on Anthony Cassar.

BWI's Wrestling Notebook (Jan. 25)

 

[LemonPie]

I like Cael's quote about Cassar

"he's really good"

 

[El-Jefe]

Looks like those "Cassar is a no-brainer" comments were a bit premature.

 

[Clarion167]

Reading between the line says he is a no go and attempts a sixth year. Then again last time I read between the lines Hall was redshirting period. Guess I need glasses.

 

[21Guns]

From Cael: "It didn't really play into it," Sanderson said, before later adding, "As a coach you're always thinking, what's your best team? Do we have enough points to win, or not win? So we've talked about it, but the kids have to be ready to reach their goals. It's a team sport, but these guys compete out there as individuals and they have to take care of their own business."

 

[Real-Lion]

I like Cael's quote about Cassar

"he's really good"

Yes. Cassar would score us some needed points at Nationals....Very good on his feet !!!! Hope he gets to wrestle off soon...Cael seems to have a like for Matt for work ethic....Cassar is our answer at 197....IMO

 

[21Guns]

This match is totally off topic but I just wanted to put it on here because it was nuts.

Brown over DeSanto at Hershey.

 

[Real-Lion]

This match is totally off topic but I just wanted to put it on here because it was nuts.

Brown over DeSanto at Hershey.

View embedded media

Yea i was there....CRAZY MATCH....LOL

 

[El-Jefe]

This match is totally off topic but I just wanted to put it on here because it was nuts.

Brown over DeSanto at Hershey.

View embedded media

Yeah, I remember that match. Fastest 2-count in history. Ref must've had to pee so bad his eyes turned yellow.

 

[Cowbell Man]

Just want to be sure I understand what Spyker is saying:

Cutch's points as a Blood Round wrestler are less than Cassars?

Cassar is guaranteed AA? Because that's what you need to make the replacement.

Cassar has been off the mat for a loooong time. How did a late return to the mat work out for Nick Nevills.

I am not commenting on Cassar's abilities at all. But it's nearly Feb. switching now against a guy who should at least R12?

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

Just want to be sure I understand what Spyker is saying:

Cutch's points as a Blood Round wrestler are less than Cassars?

Cassar is guaranteed AA? Because that's what you need to make the replacement.

Cassar has been off the mat for a loooong time. How did a late return to the mat work out for Nick Nevills.

I am not commenting on Cassar's abilities at all. But it's nearly Feb. switching now against a guy who should at least R12?

You also lose the chance for an additional year if eligibility via application for a medical rs.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

You also lose the chance for an additional year if eligibility via application for a medical rs.

And the risk that his shoulder isn't truly 100%

 

[El-Jefe]

Yes. Cassar would score us some needed points at Nationals....Very good on his feet !!!! Hope he gets to wrestle off soon...Cael seems to have a like for Matt for work ethic....Cassar is our answer at 197....IMO

Any sane coach would "have a like for work ethic" over a guy who has not yet been cleared by the doctors.

We have a name for the kind of coach who wouldn't: Tim Beckman.

 

[Callthestall]

Part of the decision on Cassar would not just be if he wins wrestle off but does staff think he can hold up during Big 10 and nationals. It's not a one match decision.

 

[Flying_Tiger]

If the staff thinks he can get a 6th year, they should sit Cassar the rest of this year. Nevills is exhibit "A" of how hard it is to come back after a long injury layoff and perform well plus a shoulder injury is a bit more tricky recovery then what Nick had. Cutch takes a lot of heat but he is a top 12 guy at that weight; maybe even a low AA. Furthermore, we just pulled Hall's shirt, that should give the team all the points they need in March.

 

[garw]

What if the kid doesn't want to spend 6 years in college? Waiting ain't free. V-raptor is an out of state kid and likely on a partial ride. Who's paying for that? If Coach wants to stick with Cutch great. If the coach wants to give Cassar a shot great. Neville's was the best option at the end of the season last year. He wrestled. A benefit would have been helping him benchmark how much work he needed to catch up. So far that move (and Nevilles) looks great.

 

[LemonPie]

I agree about trying to get a 6th for Cassar, but I'm not sure I agree about the comparison to Nevills. Cassar has been in the room since at least early November. Nevills was injured in September or October and wasn't back in the room until January or so. Nevills was also carrying 10 extra pounds from the layoff and it showed. Not an issue for Cassar.

 

[Lyco1990]

What if the kid doesn't want to spend 6 years in college? Waiting ain't free. V-raptor is an out of state kid and likely on a partial ride. Who's paying for that? If Coach wants to stick with Cutch great. If the coach wants to give Cassar a shot great. Neville's was the best option at the end of the season last year. He wrestled. A benefit would have been helping him benchmark how much work he needed to catch up. So far that move (and Nevilles) looks great.

Based on his major he is most likely looking at six years.

 

[matter7172]

What if the kid doesn't want to spend 6 years in college? Waiting ain't free. V-raptor is an out of state kid and likely on a partial ride. Who's paying for that?

I don't know the Cassars, but I do have friends that live in their community. For the most part, it is very affluent. But who is paying and how is real speculation for anyone. He can still wrestle as a graduate student if he graduates before his wrestling eligibility is exhausted, so that is another avenue.

I feel really badly for Cortez. I sat next to his parents at the Army match and got the strong impression that he was really enthused, to say the least, at finally being able to wrestle at Penn State. He didn't get much of a chance this year. After losing a year of eligibility with the transfer from Illinois, this really hurts.

 

[Cowbell Man]

What if the kid doesn't want to spend 6 years in college? Waiting ain't free. V-raptor is an out of state kid and likely on a partial ride. Who's paying for that? If Coach wants to stick with Cutch great. If the coach wants to give Cassar a shot great. Neville's was the best option at the end of the season last year. He wrestled. A benefit would have been helping him benchmark how much work he needed to catch up. So far that move (and Nevilles) looks great.

We had zero option at HWt last year. At 197 we have a threat to AA already.

 

[NoVa Lion]

We had zero option at HWt last year. At 197 we have a threat to AA already.

In addition I have seen no evidence that Cassar is a better option than Cutch. Cassar had great results in freestyle against juniors but to date his folkstyle results have not been impressive. That said, he hasn't really wrestled much folkstyle in the last 2 years.

 

[NittanyLion84]

Cael's response seemed to lean toward trying to get an additional year of eligibility. Way too many question marks this late in the game - will the shoulder be 100%, how is his conditioning and lack of D1 folk style experience.

 

[slushhead]

I'm Obviously Far From The Program, but this team doesn't need a Hail Mary move right now. And that's what Cassar would be if he's not 100% ready to go.

 

[LemonPie]

In addition I have seen no evidence that Cassar is a better option than Cutch. Cassar had great results in freestyle against juniors but to date his folkstyle results have not been impressive. That said, he hasn't really wrestled much folkstyle in the last 2 years.

2 years is a long time. 2 years ago, Cutch was making a run for AA and Wilcke was losing to HS kids. Now they are the same wrestler.

But Hall made this decision easy. Get Cassar his 6th year if you can. Stout isn't the guy, and I'm not sure AJ Nevills is either.

 

[21Guns]

It should be noted that Mouse wrestled hurt last year at Nationals: If he is healthy, he is a very, very tough out.

 

[Franklin_Restores_TheTradition]

It should be noted that Mouse wrestled hurt last year at Nationals: If he is healthy, he is a very, very tough out.

No doubt that Mouse is a very tough wrestler and absolutely a threat to AA. However, even at 84, Mouse is a bit of a "grinder" and doesn't have the most dynamic offensive abilities.....as a result, he wrestles in a lot of low scoring matches. The thing with Cutch is that it really doesn't matter whether the ranked wrestler is a super-highly ranked AA or a second-ten "qualifier" type of guy, all of them seem to come down to low-scoring, close affairs -- he's that kind of "grinder" (i.e., wrestles the top-end guys tough, but also has trouble getting "separation" from the second-ten type guys). He's the type of guy who could AA or get upset in the wrestle-backs and miss the blood-round.....but he absolutely is a very good, tough wrestler.

 

[matter7172]

No doubt that Mouse is a very tough wrestler and absolutely a threat to AA. However, even at 84, Mouse is a bit of a "grinder" and doesn't have the most dynamic offensive abilities.....as a result, he wrestles in a lot of low scoring matches. The thing with Cutch is that it really doesn't matter whether the ranked wrestler is a super-highly ranked AA or a second-ten "qualifier" type of guy, all of them seem to come down to low-scoring, close affairs -- he's that kind of "grinder" (i.e., wrestles the top-end guys tough, but also has trouble getting "separation" from the second-ten type guys). He's the type of guy who could AA or get upset in the wrestle-backs and miss the blood-round.....but he absolutely is a very good, tough wrestler.

At 184 last year when healthy, Cutch ground Zavatsky to within a point of a TF. I'll take that kind of result all day. I am still not convinced MM is fully healthy this season. We haven't seen that kind of wrestling from him this year.

 

[a_mshaffer]

At 184 last year when healthy, Cutch ground Zavatsky to within a point of a TF. I'll take that kind of result all day. I am still not convinced MM is fully healthy this season. We haven't seen that kind of wrestling from him this year.

don't forget Zav was a rookie walking out onto the big stage for the first time. If healthy, the match would be closer later in the season.

 

[Ja1339]

I'll be fine with whatever Cael decides here. I agree with the logic that says Cutch is a safe bet for D12. But I have to admit that I'm excited to see Cassar wrestle.

 

[nitlion6]

In addition I have seen no evidence that Cassar is a better option than Cutch. Cassar had great results in freestyle against juniors but to date his folkstyle results have not been impressive. That said, he hasn't really wrestled much folkstyle in the last 2 years.

You and I have either zero or very limited input - but the comment from Cael, "he is really good" heightens the fanbase's need to know.