Cassidy flexes muscles in GMU debut

  NCAA DI preseason: McCoy moving up, McGill seeks a fresh start  

   The more things change, the more they stay the same.

   For Kaden Cassidy, that means a new zip code and a different level of competition. But the results of George Mason University's wrestleoffs on Friday night showed much of the usual dominance that we saw throughout Cassidy's stellar high school career that produced a 106-7 record with three top-3 state finishes including his 2020 PIAA Class AA title.

   During his senior season at Bedford, Cassidy rung up 24 technical falls among his 38 wins, and he was back to the old tricks as a George Mason freshman with a pair of techs to solidify himself as the 141-pound starter when the Patriots begin their season next weekend.

   Cassidy bookended the wrestleoffs with his victories, winning the opening match by a 20-4 count against three-time Pennsylvania state medalist Nathan Higley before a 16-0 shutout of Shawn Nonaka to close out the proceedings.

   With an eye already towards March, Cassidy said himself that it's "back to work tomorrow."

   "My goal is (to be an) All-American at NCAA's," said Cassidy. "I think if I wrestle my best and get better at my weaknesses, I can do that."

   Cassidy also offered his thoughts on what makes collegiate wrestling a different game from that of the high school variety.

   "I would say the biggest difference in college wrestling is that everyone is good for the first three minutes," he said. "The last four minutes of the match is where the better wrestler separates himself."

   Cassidy greyshirted at George Mason last year but kept up with his wrestling and conditioning before transitioning this fall to being on campus. He also took part in several mixed martial arts competitions, and is trying to reap the benefits of that as it pertains to being on the mat.

   "MMA helps with the handfighting aspect of wrestling," he said. "There's nothing compared to a grown man throwing punches at you, so it helps with the hand fights."

   Speaking of changes, former Chestnut Ridge standouts Justin McCoy and Jared McGill are also in the news.

   McCoy will enter his third year of varsity action at the University of Virginia, but it will be a new look with him moving from 157 to 165 pounds. The two-time NCAA qualifier and returning Atlantic Coast Conference runner-up is ranked 20th in the preseason 165-pound poll by Intermat.

   Meanwhile, McGill will not be wrestling for the University of Pittsburgh this winter after opting to enter the transfer portal. He went 11-10 overall at Pitt between his redshirt and freshman seasons at 174, but in a September quote to Pittsburgh Sports Now said "things didn't work out at Pitt", and "I'm going to find a new home and a good fit for me."