Penn State wrestling’s Cael Sanderson dispels rumors on several issues, including Anthony Cassar
Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson put an end Tuesday to speculation about the potential return of reigning heavyweight champ Anthony Cassar, explicitly telling reporters his Penn State career is finished.
Rumors began swirling Friday night during the Big Ten Network broadcast that the injured Cassar might return when analyst Jim Gibbons said, “There’s been talk Cassar may be coming back into some limited action here.” Fellow analyst Tim Johnson responded, “He’s working his way back onto the mat.”
That led to a number of Nittany Lions fans holding out hope that Cassar might return for Big Tens. But Sanderson didn’t mince words Tuesday.
“No, he’s not,” Sanderson said in the hallway of the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex. “He’s not even in school right now. When he got hurt, his deal was get back for (the Olympic Trials). So I’m not sure where he got his information, but that’s not accurate.
“He’s not in class. He already graduated, and he was just taking classes so he could compete again. As soon as he got hurt, he dropped them.”
Cassar was seen in the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex on Tuesday playing dodgeball with former teammates Bo Nickal and Jason Nolf, so his health might be improved from a December shoulder injury. But his college career remains finished.
Sanderson was asked about several other rumors and potential changes Tuesday but didn’t offer near the clarity he did on Cassar.
Will Michael Beard replace Shakur Rasheed at 197 pounds?
Coming off ACL surgery, Rasheed clearly has not been the same wrestler. He’s appeared tentative this season and has lacked the ability to penetrate and rack up takedowns.
After dropping a Friday decision to Iowa’s Jacob Warner, 4-2, Rasheed was not in the lineup Sunday against Maryland. That led to questions about Rasheed’s long-term health, although Sanderson downplayed Sunday’s lineup change.
“It’s just basically the same thing he’s been dealing with,” the coach said. “It’s just getting his knee back to 100%. It’s pretty much the same thing.”
If Rasheed would be unable to go in the postseason, and with transfer Kyle Conel also unavailable due to injury, Penn State would likely have to burn the redshirt of decorated prospect Michael Beard.
When asked if there have been discussions yet about removing the redshirt, Sanderson didn’t offer a definitive no but intimated that would only be a last resort — if Rasheed couldn’t wrestle.
“We want to give Shak every possible option to compete,” Sanderson said. “He came back, he’s given us great years and, if he’s even close to healthy, as we’ve seen, he has a chance. It’s about him, giving him a chance to reach his goals.
“But we’ll see what happens over the next month. Beard, he’s ready to go if that were to be the case.”
Any changes in the status of injured Brady Berge?
Sanderson didn’t offer much in the way of a clear answer when a reporter asked whether Berge would miss the rest of this season.
Penn State’s coach didn’t seem to know for sure, although the plan was always to get him ready in time to compete at 157 pounds for Big Tens.
“Things have gone kind of back and forth, so I don’t know,” Sanderson said. “I don’t know. He’s doing what he can, trying to get back. There’s a chance that he’s back, and there’s a chance that he’s not back. However helpful that is.
“I wish we had him every match this year, but we just want to make sure that his long-term health is obviously the priority.”
Berge, a redshirt sophomore, suffered an apparent head injury and got knocked out at the U23 World Championships in late October. He has has wrestled one match since, a 5-3 decision over Lehigh’s Josh Humphreys.
Lineup changes?
Sanderson teased some potential lineup changes Friday by telling TrackWrestling, “Our lineup might continue to change.”
But, when asked Tuesday whether the lineup would be different this weekend, the coach answered in the negative — while still giving himself a little wiggle room.
“We’ll probably be sticking with the same lineup as we move forward — unless we feel there’s a change that would benefit the team,” he said. “But we’re always thinking, trying to figure things out, trying to play the game and use the pieces we have to be successful.”
The Nittany Lions will take on No. 8 Wisconsin at 9 p.m. Friday and No. 11 Minnesota at 2 p.m. Sunday. Both matches are on the road.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 5:20 PM.
