Pronunciation:
Honors & Awards:
•NCAA Championship Qualifier (2023-24)
•NSCA All-America recipient (2023-24)
•All-NSIC First Team (2023-24)
•NSIC Wrestler of the Week (Nov. 14, 2023)
•NSIC Wrestler of the Week (Dec. 19, 2022)
•NSIC Wrestler of the Week (Nov. 14, 2022)
•NCAA All-American (2021-22)
•Super Region V Champion (2021-22)
•All-NSIC First Team (2021-22)
•NSIC Wrestler of the Week (Nov. 16, 2021)
•NCAA All-American (2020-21)
2023-24: NCAA national qualifier ... named NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year recipient ... finished the season 18-4 ... went 9-0 in duals ... ranked as high as No. 3 at 197 pounds in the NWCA poll ... went 2-1 at Super Regional at 197 pounds to place second ... named NSIC Wrestler of the Week on Nov. 14.
2022-23: Finished the season 16-2 ... went 3-1 in duals ... named NSIC Wrestler of the Week twice, first (Nov. 14) after going 5-0 at the Dakota Wesleyan Open and for a second time (Dec. 19) after going 5-0 at the Midwest Classic .. ranked as high as No. 2 at 184 pounds in the NWCA poll ... missed last month of season with an injury.
2021-22: NCAA All-American … placed sixth at the NCAA Championships with a 3-3 record … became the third wrestler in program history to win a regional championship, going 3-0 to win at 184 pounds … ranked as high as no. 4 at 184 pounds ... finished the season with an overall record of 22-4 … went 8-0 in duals … recorded three pins … earned NSIC Wrestler of the Week after going 5-0 to win the Dakota Wesleyan Open (11/13/21) … went 3-0 to win the Dragon Open (12/5/21) … fastest pin came in 48 seconds (11/13/21).
2020-21: NCAA All-American ... placed fifth at the NCAA Championships with a 3-2 record ... finished the season with an overall record of 11-5 ... going 3-2 in the NSIC ... winning two matches by fall, five by decision and one by forfeit ... finished 5-1 at the NCAA Super Regional.
Before SMSU: Competed two seasons (2018-20) at 184 pounds for the University of Minnesota ... compiled 36 victories during open tournaments ... finished 17-6 during the 2018-19 season with four wins by fall, five by major decision and one by tech fall ... closed with a 19-10 record in 2019-20, which included a third place finish at the Last Chance Open ... he recorded one win by fall, three by major decision and one by tech fall in 2019-20.
High School: 2018 graduate of Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS ... two-time state champion ... was a member of two state championship teams ... four-time all-conference and three-time all-section honoree ... finished high school career with 174 victories ... was also a two-time high school All-American.
Personal: Born Feb. 22, 2000 ... son of Link and Jen Steffen ... has one brother and one sister ... supply chain management major ... father, Link, was a four-year letter winner in wrestling at SMSU ... Link won the 1998 NCAA national championship at 190 pounds.
