SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor
John Sterner (wrestling/football 1984-89) became SMSU’s first ever wrestling national champion as he won the 190 pound weight class at the 1989 NAIA Championships in Jamestown, N.D.
Sterner, who was the No. 3 seed heading into the championship, went 4-0 and won the national title by defeating Pat Whitcomb of Western Montana College 5-4.
A native of Marshall, Minn., Sterner finished the year 38-2, also was the NIC champion at 190 lb. and helped lead the Mustangs to the 1989 NIC team championship. He also won the 1989 NAIA Bi-District title helping lead SMSU to their second straight NAIA Bi-District 13/15 team championship.
Sterner finished his career as a two-time NAIA All-America and had a career record of 100-21 (.826), which ranks in the top five in career winning percentage in school history. A member of three NIC championship squads (1985, 1987, 1989), he took home his first NAIA All-America award in 1987 by placing third at 190 lb. and finishing the year with a record of 33-5.
He was also the NIC champion at 190 lb. in both 1987 and 1989 (he redshirted during the 1987-88 season) and took second at 190 lb. in 1985.
Sterner also played football for four seasons (1984-87) under head coach Gary Buer. A linebacker for the Mustangs, he finished his career with 140 tackles and six and a half sacks. His best season came in 1986 when he had 57 tackles including eight for loss and five fumble recoveries.
Sterner spent nine seasons as head wrestling coach at Southwest Minnesota State. During his tenure at SMSU, he led SMSU to the 2001 NSIC championship and was named NSIC Coach of the Year in 2001 and the NCAA Division II?Regional Coach of the Year in 2003.
