For Immediate Release
Monday, December 19, 2022
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Wrestler of the Week
Caden Steffen (184 lbs., Jr., Zumbrota, Minn. / Zumbrota-Mazeppa HS) – SMSU
- Placed first at 184 pounds at the
43rd Annual Midwest Classic in Indianapolis
- Defeated two ranked wrestlers as he went 5-0 over the weekend
- Started with a fall at 6:34 in the first round, and followed with a technical fall (6:55, 18-3) in the second round
- Matched up against No. 11 Cole Houser of Glenville State and won by a 5-2 decision in the quarterfinals
- Defeated No. 7 Daniel Beemer of Ashland by an 8-4 decision in the semifinals
- Faced Anthony Des Vigne of Central Oklahoma and won 3-2 to place first
- Named NSIC Wrestler of the Week for the second time this season (11/14/22)
Jaxson Rohman (AUGIE) defeated Bishop Murray of Nebraska Kearney by fall at 5:48. He logged four takedowns and a two-point near fall prior to the pin. His record moves to 7-1 with his fourth fall of the season.
Max Bruss (UMary) won the 174-weight class championship at the 43rd Midwest Classic, finishing the weekend with a perfect 5-0 record. Ranked sixth in the country, Bruss won all three matches on Saturday, including one by major decision and another by pin over #9 Cole Hernandez of Western Colorado. Both wins on Sunday were 4-2 decisions as he defeated Brandon Matthews (Seton Hill) in the semifinals and Zeke Waltz (McKendree) to win the title. He led No. 22 UMary to a seventh place team finish in the largest NCAA Division II tournament of the season.
Kole Marko (MSU) went 2-0 at the Cactus Duals in Phoenix, Arizona. He recorded two falls in the first period at 1:17 and 1:38 and amassed 12 points for the Mavericks throughout two duals. He helped win the dual over #12 Simon Fraser.
Chase Luensman (UIU) placed second in the 165 pound bracket at the Midwest Classic. Held a 4-1 record with one win by major decision. Luensman scored wins over wrestlers from Colorado School of Mines, Colorado Mesa and McKendree to reach the semifinals. In the semis, the Monticello, Iowa product defeated John Ridle of Central Missouri in a 6-2 decision to earn his shot at the title. Luensman suffered his first loss of the season, 4-2, to Shane Gantz of Wisconsin-Parkside to place second. Upper Iowa placed sixth at the 43rd Annual Midwest Classic with 76.5 points behind four place winners.
Shane Gantz (UWP) won the 165 pound bracket at the Midwest Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis. He took on No.6 ranked Jack Eiteljorge of UIndy in the semifinal match where he won by a 6-2 decision. Gantz then won the championship match in a 4-2 decision over Chase Leunsman of UIU. He went 5-0 on the weekend, improving to 21-0 on the season.
NSIC Wrestling Pages
NSIC Wrestlers of the Week
11/7/22: Caleb Meekins – St. Cloud State
11/14/22: Caden Steffen – SMSU
11/21/22: Eric Faught – Upper Iowa
12/5/22: Tyler Wagener - Augustana
12/12/22: Shane Gantz - Parkside
12/19/22: Caden Steffen – SMSU (2)
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 25 team national championships and crowned 96 individual national champions. For additional information, visit
NorthernSun.org.
About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit
NCAA.org.
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