LIVE BLOG: Here’s how Penn State performed in the finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships

By Lauren Muthler and Nate Cobler

Updated March 23, 2019 11:42 PM

Penn State’s Anthony Cassar controls Oklahoma State’s Derek White in the 285 lb championship bout at the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling championships on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at PPG Paints Arena. Cassar won by major decision, 10-1. Abby Drey adrey@centredaily.com

PITTSBURGH

The 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championship are over — and, once again, Penn State dominated.

The Nittany Lions locked up the national team title by Saturday afternoon, making this their fourth straight title and eighth in nine years. On Saturday night, three of their five wrestlers in the finals earned national titles in their respective weight classes — including Anthony Cassar (285 pounds), Jason Nolf (157) and Bo Nickal (197). Penn State’s runners-up were Mark Hall (174) and Vincenzo Joseph (165).

Throughout Saturday night, we offered updates below of tweets with play-by-play, video snippets and photos. You can still find all those tweets below, a snapshot of Penn State’s historic night.

If you’re looking for further coverage, of quotes, analysis and perspective, please check back soon on our Penn State wrestling landing page right here.

Best dynasty in sports @pennstateWREST !!!!!
— Trace McSorley (@McSorley_IX) March 24, 2019

It wasn't a points record, but @pennstateWREST still blew out the field for its eighth national title in nine years. pic.twitter.com/3PRRdPQx5n
— Onward State (@OnwardState) March 24, 2019

Three-time national champion, Bo Nickal of @pennstateWREST! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/uugZSK9xHh
— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019

Nickel and Nolf. Potentially the greatest athletic combo in Penn State history, in the books.
— Kevin Horne (@KevinHornePSU) March 24, 2019

Legend. pic.twitter.com/zEHZp1YdeM
— Evil James Franklin (@JamesFrankwin) March 24, 2019

Nickal locks up a cradle late but no near-fall points and wins 5-1 to become 4th 3-time champ for PSU
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Nickal up 2-1 after two #PSUwr #NCAAWrestling
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 24, 2019

Nickal with a TD 7 secs left in 1st, leads 2-0
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

One more fall for Bo Nickal and he ties Jason at 60 career pins - Penn State's record. Can he do it again against Kollin Moore?
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) March 24, 2019

Time for the final match of the night
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Mark Hall just signed autographs for some young kids 30 seconds after losing in the NCAA finals. That may have been the classiest thing I've seen all weekend
— Mason Beckman (@beck_diggity) March 24, 2019

Okay in a few minutes we end this show with Bo Nickal and Kollin Moore, closing us out at 197! #PSUwr #NCAAWrestling
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 24, 2019

It's Bo time. @pennstateWREST @FloWrestling #NCAAWrestling

BTN x @AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/RvtG2iJ025
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 24, 2019

Okay Lion Nation we got 184 next and then we close out the festivities with Bo Nickal and Kollin Moore in the final at 197, the last bout of the 2019 NCAA Championships! Then there's the team hardware ceremony and such... #PSUwr #NCAAWrestling
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 24, 2019

Valencia tops Hall for the second straight year, this time 4-3
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

3-3 after 2, Valencia with choice to start 3rd and will go down
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

The call stands, we're tied 3-3 #PSUwr #NCAAWrestling
— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) March 24, 2019

Valencia has tied match up at 3-3 with 43 seconds left but PSU challenging TD
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Hall with a counter TD on Valencia leads 2-1 after 1
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Time for a rematch of last year's 174-pound title match with Hall and Valencia
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

"Knowing that the crowd was behind me gave me joy in knowing that I put my heart into this sport and into the things I love, and you can kind of start to see things pay off." -Jason Nolf pic.twitter.com/CM4YlrFKio
— Onward State (@OnwardState) March 24, 2019

I didn’t get to see a lot of the match, as I was back in the interview room with Nolf, but wow, what an impressive win For the freshman Mekhi Lewis over the two-time national champion junior Joseph. where have we heard that storyline before?
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) March 24, 2019

Ironic, how Joseph was in the same situation of Lewis two years ago when he stuck and pinned Isaiah Martinez
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Mekhi Lewis just stuned the hometown kid of Joseph 7-1
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Rub @BaybeeMarky_PSU's head for good luck? @pennstateWREST @FloWrestling

BTN x @AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/UQJpiWPgFK
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 24, 2019

Joseph down 4-1 after 2
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Scoreless 1st period for Joseph
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Penn State's Vincenzo Joseph goes with 'Renegade,' for his NCAA wrestling walk-in music, appealing to the yinzers in house. Right, @C_AdamskiTrib?
— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) March 24, 2019

PSU 2-for-2 in finals, Joseph coming up next
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Jason Nolf is the 47th three-time NCAA champ and the third from Penn State. He finishes his college career with a 117-3 record.
— Andy Hamilton (@Andy_Hamilton) March 24, 2019

Thank you, Jason Nolf.pic.twitter.com/AFj3vLNM1A
— Onward State (@OnwardState) March 24, 2019

Nolf just returned the riding favor on Berger and earned a 10-2 major decision to become PSU's 3rd 3-time NCAA Champion
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Vincenzo Joseph is plugged in. @pennstateWREST #NCAAWrestling

BTN x @AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/PQtizyjETF
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 24, 2019

Nolf up 9-2 after 2, Berger rode him for most of period
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Nolf dominating Berger so far, leads 8-2 after 1 with 1:16 in RT
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Here we go for Nolf's last time in a Penn State singlet
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

So many people waiting to tweet “this aged well”
— Kyle Conel (@KyjorRL) March 24, 2019

Just a reminder that this is what Jason Nolf's opponent in the finals, Nebraska's Tyler Berger, said back in January ... pic.twitter.com/xdwtmZcKkb
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) March 24, 2019

The calm before the storm. @jasonnolf @pennstateWREST #NCAAWrestling

BTN x @AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/3i1zKyQwDG
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 24, 2019

Ok, now the fun begins! 3 straight guys in the finals with Nolf, Joseph & Hall
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 24, 2019

Short break..... then Murderers Row of @pennstateWREST. Nolf Cenzo Hall and Bo. Let's do this
— Evil James Franklin (@JamesFrankwin) March 24, 2019

I’m running out words to describe the dominance of Coach Sanderson and the Penn State Wrestling Program. This is simply remarkable!! 4 National Titles in a row and 8 out of 9 years!!! We need to play Tina Turner’s song “SIMPLY THE BEST!!” #TrueDYNASTY #WeAre #ProudAlumn pic.twitter.com/dMnUIrN9b1
— Ki-Jana Carter (@mastakey32) March 23, 2019

“The Champ” after winning his first #NCAAWrestling national championship in his first postseason appearance as a fifth-year senior. pic.twitter.com/aFwhw7VdFD
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) March 23, 2019

Anthony Cassar kicks it off for Penn State taking gold with a 10-1 major at 285 lbs. #Ncaawrestlingchampionships pic.twitter.com/viF34Cxe19
— Abby Drey (@ADreyPhotos) March 23, 2019

What adjustments did Cassar make since losing to White in January?

"I was keeping my pace up, moving my feet and hands," he said. "Might not mean a lot to you but it gets them real tired. I could go all day."
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) March 23, 2019

"I'm in the best school, the best program, the best facilities, the best coaches, everything I have to be a champion. So if I'm not a champion, it's my fault." -Anthony Cassar pic.twitter.com/svB5Qrnh1M
— Onward State (@OnwardState) March 23, 2019

Anthony Cassar was feeling that last win! @pennstateWREST @FloWrestling #NCAAWrestling

BTN x @AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/BLNKfHzHSW
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 23, 2019

1 down #WeAre champs
— BLESSEDMVP (@Micah_Parsons11) March 23, 2019

Congrats Anthony! Our first @pennstateWREST of 2019! #WeAre #OneTeam #More2Come https://t.co/PQrNTtvuQG
— Sandy Barbour (@SandyB_PSUAD) March 23, 2019

Anthony “The Champ” Cassar https://t.co/xMo7c5Ke4q
— David Taylor (@magicman_psu) March 23, 2019

.@pennstateWREST showing that championship mentality. @FloWrestling #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/CSQcPKwWdm
— Penn State On BTN (@PennStateOnBTN) March 23, 2019

Penn State’s 1-0 in the NCAA wrestling finals. Anthony Cassar wins 10-1 at 285. pic.twitter.com/8d0N8CJpkw
— Mark Wogenrich (@MarkWogenrich) March 23, 2019

My oh my Anthony Cassar, what a way to possibly end your college career with a 10-1 major decision and NCAA title!
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 23, 2019

Cassar with late TD and 4 NF at buzzer to lead 6-1 after 2
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 23, 2019

0-0 after 1 for Cassar, wrestling like he did at Southern Scuffle against White
— Nate Cobler (@byncobler) March 23, 2019

Anthony Cassar goes with "We will Rock You" tonight. No Soulja Boy :(
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) March 23, 2019

Some light reading to hold you over until the start of tonight's #NCAAWresting finals. With just one match each to go in their collegiate careers, Jason Nolf leads Bo Nickal by just 1 in Penn State's career pins race (60 to 59). Here's why they don't care:https://t.co/xshD0afyv7
— Lauren Muthler (@lmuth1259) March 23, 2019

This story was originally published March 23, 2019 at 7:21 PM.

Get unlimited digital access

#ReadLocal