There were so many rumors in the off-season about his health. Understandably, the program is quite tight lipped about injuries. However, we are obviously getting close to go time. Has anyone heard anything about his health status?
Nick Nevills' health
- Thread starter NittanyChris
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If Nick is 100% healthy and can stay that way (knock on wood) I really like his chances to win it ALL!!!
Or is the Raptor now a T-Rex with the move up in weight class?
This is a better and more informed communication than CPyles or most others.
As I suggested before...….The fact that Seth is Grayshirting this year may very well be a result of Cassar getting an extra year and Anthony will use this year to get full on heavyweight and go next year. It would seem obvious that ONE of these two has to go next year. I seriously doubt Seth Grayshirted and then starts as a true freshman. That seems nonsensical. Don't be shocked if it happens this way.
I like our chances at Heavy as well (either guy). Despite the fact that Steveson has been pre-ordained to win it the next 4 years.
NLWC Golf Outing Photo
In spite of that I still don't see Cassar coming close to beating a 100% healthy Nevills. JMHO
11 NoVa Lion, Sep 7, 2018
2018/19 lineup speculation
As to 285 if Nevills is healthy I would put the chances of Cassar beating him out at less than 1%.
4 NoVa Lion, Jun 24, 2018
BWI's Wrestling Notebook (Updates on Mark Hall, Anthony Cassar, Jered Cortez + more)
In addition I have seen no evidence that Cassar is a better option than Cutch.
21 NoVa Lion, Jan 26, 2017
New commit James Hoeg
Not to knock on any PSU wrestler, but I have seen NO evidence that Cassar would beat out Cutch.
27 NoVa Lion, Apr 21, 2017
So we'll put you down as a no-go on the V Raptor fan club?
Related to this, can/will any of these guys go to college tournaments as unattached guys?
Also, we know Brooks is at the OTC, are the other 3 at the NLWC?
Ever since my divorce 10 years ago I’ve been going to tournaments as an unattached guy. It’s rather refreshing. I’ll recommend it to them.
And anyone else for that matter.
Okay I'll bite.
I think Nick has a legitimate shot at being a national champion this year clearly a shoo-in for top four. Steveson may be the second coming or maybe he'll Redshirt. so aside from him being a huge unknown Nick can or already has beaten the rest.
That said I think Cassar may have an equal chance the only thing we don't know about him as how would he fare against a really big heavy like Stoll. Nevill's is more of a 5-2 to 3-1 match type guy, where Cassar I could see getting three or four takedowns on most Heavy's in the country and as a result I would not put it past Cassar two beat Nick straight up in a wrestle off, simply because he's fast, strong, athletic and great on his feet.
I think Cassar probably would have finished better than 7th nationally last year at 197. I don't know that I buy into the idea that he moved up simply to get a 6th year shot at being our heavy a year from now. Unless the cut was really killing him, I think he has a better shot at a 6th year at 197 against the redshirt freshman Beard.
I think Nick has a legitimate shot at being a national champion this year clearly a shoo-in for top four. Steveson may be the second coming or maybe he'll Redshirt. so aside from him being a huge unknown Nick can or already has beaten the rest.
That said I think Cassar may have an equal chance the only thing we don't know about him as how would he fare against a really big heavy like Stoll. Nevill's is more of a 5-2 to 3-1 match type guy, where Cassar I could see getting three or four takedowns on most Heavy's in the country and as a result I would not put it past Cassar two beat Nick straight up in a wrestle off, simply because he's fast, strong, athletic and great on his feet.
I think Cassar probably would have finished better than 7th nationally last year at 197. I don't know that I buy into the idea that he moved up simply to get a 6th year shot at being our heavy a year from now. Unless the cut was really killing him, I think he has a better shot at a 6th year at 197 against the redshirt freshman Beard.
I'm sure AC believes he has a shot to win the spot this year.
Personally. I don't get why fans feel the need to pick one PSU guy over another. A show of confidence for one can be seen as disrespect toward the other.
I'll let them decide who starts, then root hard for the winner.
Personally. I don't get why fans feel the need to pick one PSU guy over another. A show of confidence for one can be seen as disrespect toward the other.
I'll let them decide who starts, then root hard for the winner.
As Bo would say, when were are bored shitless that's what we do!
I have total respect for every member from Nolf down to Schnupp, all have a Lion's heart instilled by Cael. Virtually every sport known to man has fans saying what if, and prognosticating who is going to win etc... If we write to this board assuming reach of our guys read all this fan drivel and let it affect them, then this would be a pretty boring place. That last thing I want to do is insult or guys. I admire and pretty much envy, every one.
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That's a good one, and I worried about that. I'll give Livingston and Schnupp this kudo. Despite wrestling since the 5th grade, both would have kicked my ass even in my day as a Sr. in highschool at 145. Fans come in all shapes, sizes, agrees, levels of experience and abilities ... or lack thereof. My claim to fame in HS wrestling is three fold:
(1) as a freshman 98 and sophomore 126 I did go undefeated granted but not as a varsity wrestler. As a Junior 138 and senior 145 it was nearly 100% the opposite. Oh did I clarify I graduated at 6' 2" and made Bo Nickal at his skinniest look like hercules.
(2) my most famous moment as a senior was when the kid elbowed the back of my head while on top. I went into a blind rage flailing and punching like a mad man and when the ref stepped in to break it up he caught one on the chin. I knocked him out cold for several minutes. I have the pictures in my year book to prove it. After some smelling salts he came back and we finished the match. I got the kid in a reverse cradle and had him flat for more than a minute but the ref refused to give it to me. I lost something like 12-10
(3) the closest I came to wrestling PA finalist quality guy was when we visited Trinity back in their hey day. Our coach thought the only way we could stand a chance is for everyone on the team to move down one weight, we all spent a week spitting into cups taking laxatives sitting in saunas. I missed making weight at 138 by half a pound so the next genius move was to move several of us up two weight classes. So there I was a 138 lbs 6 ft 2 Bean Pole wrestling 155 against one of the Oliverio twins. If your memory goes back that far, those were the twins that at least one of them maybe both were state champs. He pancaked me 10 seconds into the match and I do have the pride to say I got to the second. The rest of our team did similarly spectacular.
So in closing and circling back to Livingston and Schnupp they are awesome, anybody who steps foot into the Holy Grail of the PSU room as a member of that team has my utmost respect.
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Big Cassar fan, just not at 285. Please name me the last wrestler at ANY school that moved up to 285 in their 5th year and was an AA? If Nevills can't go and Cassar is our 285 I will root for him as hard as any fan and be just as happy as any fan if he does AA.
I have zero examples of this happening......but who are the AA caliber 197 guys who have attempted this? It is somewhat of a straw man argument to say it is not happening because we have no good examples. Cassar would have to go through NN to get the spot, and if he can do this he can beat any other 285 out there imo. White from OSU moved up with pretty decent success and he was not as good at 197 as Cassar was. I know when Varner was at ISU he routinely pounded David Zabriskie in the room and Dave won an NCAA title that year. I am in no way saying Cassar will beat out NN for the nod, but if he does only a fool would think AA is long shot.
In their fifth year is a kind of arbitrary metric because it renders the pool of candidates statistically negligible; I mean, how many guys did that, period?
I think Snyder is a good model for what Cassar is trying to do. I mean Cassar is no Kyle Snyder but then who is? While at 197 Snyder had a slightly thicker frame than Cassar, but Snyder still could've stayed at 197 over his college career--the extra pounds he put on were his own doing, like Cassar. When that weight gain occurred is of no matter. If Cassar succeeds at HWT he's probably going to get his takedowns similarly, with outside low singles, or win matches late because the heavier guys gas.
Also, DT went up two weight classes in his (effectively) 7th year and beat a future NCAA champ to win Midlands.
Using 5th year was not arbitrary, although I agree it limits the pool. My point in using the 5th year is that many have moved up and been AA, but all of them when they were younger and probably still growing. Cassar is now 22 so bulking up at this point and keeping his speed advantage will be tough to do. I'm not saying he can't AA at 285 just that IMHO it is unlikely.
That's why I brought up Snyder as a comparison, because I don't think his move to Heavy was based on a growth spurt so much as his freestyle aspirations. And even now Snyder could probably make 197 if he had to, he only weighs in 14 pounds above that for int'l events. Heavy is often thin but especially so this year, AA'ing seems realistic for a guy as talented as Cassar. I'm also basing that partly on the photo of him at the golf outing. He's not the guy he was in high school anymore:
Pitt's Zac Thomusseit wrestled 184 as a freshman; 197 as a sophomore and junior (NQ); moved up to 285 in his fourth year but was injured early and redshirted; came back as a 5th year senior at 285 and placed 5th at NCAAs. Zac weighed around 225.
Clarion's Dan Payne wrestled 177 (which became 184 during the "97-'98 season) as a sophomore ('93) and junior ('94) and was a NQ both years. As a senior ('95) he bumped up to HWT and made All American (7th).
Clarion's Dan Payne wrestled 177 (which became 184 during the "97-'98 season) as a sophomore ('93) and junior ('94) and was a NQ both years. As a senior ('95) he bumped up to HWT and made All American (7th).
Realistically, 285 is easier than 197. Most of the guys at 285 aren't that good. If Cassar moves up and wins the spot, as others have said, he will be a serious contender for a title.
Maybe. 197 is a better weight for technical wrestling and pure athleticism. If Cassar starts, IMO he's top 3 technically and athletically with Steveson and Sasquatch.
However, HWT is also a season-long war of attrition. Being the best guy in a single match does not equate to being the best guy in 5 matches after being clubbed over the head and shoulders for 4+ months.
I think he can be a high AA, maybe even finalist, but it's hard to be sure without seeing how he adjusts his style to avoid the clubbings.
However, HWT is also a season-long war of attrition. Being the best guy in a single match does not equate to being the best guy in 5 matches after being clubbed over the head and shoulders for 4+ months.
I think he can be a high AA, maybe even finalist, but it's hard to be sure without seeing how he adjusts his style to avoid the clubbings.
Well said. I suspect, even with the talent level at the Keystone Classic, we’ll get a glimpse of what’s possible.
Movement and staying outside in the neutral position are the keys to avoiding the clubbings. I had to wrestle every day in HS with our heavyweight (not a plodder) who placed 4th and 2nd in PA AAA's and gave up 80 pounds to him. But I was quicker and more mobile, so I used that and did fine against him. I think Cassar will be even quicker and more mobile than the 285s he goes against.
Keep in mind, AC is not working from a base of 197. As a true Fr he was the 96 kg representative on the JR world team. I remember film of him working out with Snyder at the OTC. Four years later I've got to believe he can hang with most heavies, maybe even one as tough as NN.
Nah, he changed it to the "theposterpreviouslyknownasGreengrappler"
That's funny, but I've been reborn
Great point.
Last year there was legitimate concern about whether Cassar could get down to 197.
Assuming good health at heavy and hoping Nick Lee doesn't shoot Nick or Anthony in the knee, Penn State's heavyweight will AA top 4 and has a very realistic shot at being a finalist.
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