After he finished fourth at the region tournament last season, falling a victory shy of qualifying for the state tournament, Montgomery's Anthony Cassar dedicated himself to two simple goals: To make it to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City as a senior this year and put himself in position to reach the top of the podium.

Done and done.

Cassar escaped with 22 seconds remaining in the second rideout to take the lead and added a late takedown for good measure to knock off Franklin's Ralph Normandia, 4-1, to capture the 195-pound state title Sunday at the NJSIAA/Resilite championships.

"I started training right after that loss," said Cassar, who finished fourth in Region 5 at 170 in 2013. "I knew I was going to take whatever it took. The eight months since then have been a living hell just so I could experience six minutes of heaven."

Well, eight. The two wrestlers entered overtime tied at 1 after Normandia (41-4) almost secured a title-clinching takedown as time expired in regulation. Cassar (43-0) then nearly had a decisive takedown of his own with a second left in the sudden victory period, but that also failed to beat the clock.

In rideouts, Cassar held Normandia down for the entirety of the first 30-second period. In the second, Cassar got out eight seconds in and then ran out the clock, becoming Montgomery's first-ever state champion.

"I always feel confident in overtime," Cassar said. "I just get a boost of energy when it comes to overtime. I just feel I work harder and I'm more conditioned."

Cassar faced Normandia four times this season and won all four meetings, each in a tournament final: Somerset County, District 18, Region 5 and now states. Cassar edged Normandia in sudden victory in the region final.

Cassar, who will be making his college decision in the coming weeks, earned his only career state medal in his only state tournament appearance.

Normandia, headed to Rutgers, finished third in the state last year at 220 pounds.

James Kratch: jkratch@njschoolsports.com; Twitter: @JamesKratchHS