Link Steffen, Southwest Minnesota State University (1994-1998)
Link Steffen was a dominant force for the Southwest State University wrestling team from 1994 to 1998. A four-year letterwinner, Steffen won the 1998 NCAA Division II individual national championship at 190 pounds, becoming the first NCAA National Champion at SMSU and third in the NSIC. A three-time NCAA national qualifier and two-time All-America (1997 & 1998), Steffen finished his national championship senior season with a school best 39-1 record and was named the Midwest Region Wrestler of the Year. He earned the region honor after winning the Midwest Region meet in Edmond, Oklahoma, to qualify for the NCAA Championships in Pueblo, Colorado.
Despite an unblemished record versus NCAA opponents, Steffen entered the NCAA meet as the No. 6 seed and opened with a dominating 21-10 victory over Steve Divirgilo from UMASS-Lowell. He then picked up a 6-3 victory over Andy Sistek from Nebraska-Kearney before earning a victory by fall at 2:39 over Edwin Lorne from Central Oklahoma in the semifinals. In the final, Steffen faced Mike Schadwinkle from Adams State and following a scoreless opening period, Steffen scored on a reversal to go up 2-0 in the second period and cruised from there to earn an 8-1 victory and national championship.
Steffen’s only loss on the season was a 9-6 decision to two-time Junior College national champion, NCAA All-American, two-time Olympian and UFC two-division world champion, Daniel Cormier from Colby Community College. Steffen and Cormier met in the championship match of an open tournament hosted by the University of Central Missouri.
Steffen, who placed fourth at the 1997 NCAA Championships at 177 pounds to earn All-American honors, was a two-time NSIC champion (1997 & 1998) and two-time conference runner-up (1995 & 1996). He finished his career with a 114-22 record, ranking third all-time in school history for winning percentage at .838.
Steffen also played two seasons for the Mustang baseball team (1995 & 1996) appearing in 34 games, finishing with a .292 career batting average with two home runs and seven doubles.
Steffen is currently the head wrestling coach at Zumbrota-Mazeppa High School where he has coached multiple team and individual state champions. He and his wife Jen have three children: Chase, Caden, and Avery. Caden was an All-American wrestler for the Mustangs the past two seasons.