University of Minnesota Athletics
2018-19 Wrestling Roster
Steve Bleise
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Hometown:
- Chelsea, Mich.
- High School:
- Chelsea High School
- Position:
- 157 lbs.
| PRONUNCIATION |
- Letterwinner ('17, '18)
- Three-time NCAA Qualifier ('16, '17, '18, '19)
- Finished in Round of 12 at 2017 and 2019 NCAA Championships
- Voted as the team's most courageous wrestler ('18)
- Awarded Verne Gagne Leadership Award ('19)
- 2019 Academic All-Big Ten
Overall Record: 21-9
Dual Meet Record: 11-4
Big Ten Record: 12-7
Pins: 3
Major Decisions: 4
Technical Falls: - -
• Letterwinner • Awarded Verne Gagne Leadership Award at team's annual award's banquet • Defeated Oklahoma State's Andrew Shomers with a late flurry of points despite a broken hand • Began season 6-0 • Only losses came to Top-20 opponents• Upset No.3 Ryan Deakin in sudden victory at Big Ten Championships at Williams Arena • Advanced to Round of 12 at 2019 NCAA Championships in Pittsburgh • Wrestled through injury throughout entire season • Academic All-Big Ten •
2017-18 • REDSHIRT JUNIOR
Overall Record: 20-9
Dual Meet Record: 1-1
Big Ten Record: 9-6
Pins: 3
Major Decisions: 3
Technical Falls: 2
NCAA Qualifier • Letterwinner • Transfered from Northern Illinois • finished 2-2 at NCAAs • finished seventh at 2018 Big Ten Championships • Made Minnesota dual debut against Illinois where he won 4-1 and helped Gophers complete comeback at home • First 18 matches of the season came unattached in open tournaments • Took down No. 11 Joshua Maruca of Arizona State at Midlands Championships • Pinned No. 11 Eleazar Deluca of Rutgers at Big Ten Championships
HIGH SCHOOL
Four-time varsity letterwinner and team MVP at Chelsea High School • Earned all-state, all-area and all-conference honors each of his four seasons • Posted an undefeated record and won the state title as a senior • Went 45-1 as a junior with the Bulldogs en route to a second-place finish at the state tournament • Placed fourth at the state tournament in 2012, posting a record of 30-6 as a sophomore • Helped CHS to a district team championship in 2013, along with runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2012 • Finished with a 52-7 record as a freshman, setting Dexter High School's record for most wins in a season • Took fifth place at the state tournament in 2011 • Earned a spot on the 2013 junior duals all-star team with a 10-2 overall record • Competed in the USA Greco-Roman Nationals in 2013 • Attended the same high school as NIU head coach Ryan Ludwig
PERSONAL
Son of Carl and Kathleen Bleise • Volunteers as a youth wrestling coach • Enjoys wakeboarding and tubing
| Season | Overall | Dual | Big Ten | Pins | Maj. Dec. | Tech. Fall | B1G Finish | NCAA Finish |
| 2017-18 | 20-9 | 1-1 | 9-6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7th | DNP |
| 2018-19 | 15-4 | 11-4 | 9-3 | 3 | 3 | - - | - - | - - |
| Totals | 20-9 | 1-1 | 9-6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7th | DNP |
