Panther Train conductor Doug Schwab punched the ticket of his second top 100 recruit of the 2015 class when Bryce Steiert announced he would be traveling to Cedar Falls. The UNI Panthers keep the train rolling with this commitment.
**Here’s what we said about Steiert just days before his commitment in our recruiting primer:
The final wrestler we will be addressing today is Waverly-Shell Rock’s Bryce Steiert. The #19 ranked 145 wrestler, Steiert projects to be a 149/157 wrestler for his college career. Steiert doesn’t have all of the accolades that Stroker or Thomsen have, so he will be considered more of a “project” wrestler where he may not necessarily start as a freshman, but could be a guy who thrives down the road. We’ve talked about Steiert in the past here, like his Cadet Nationals finish where he didn’t place, but he was also one of the few wrestlers who didn’t get destroyed by Mason Manville. No one likes to brag about losses, but realistically that is about as good as a loss can get. Steiert was also competing on that Blue team that competed in the Junior Duals in Oklahoma and finished 6th. Steiert wrestled all the way up at 160 for Iowa and he was an impressive 6-1. Steiert is one of those guys you get in your room and his hard work pays off and he ends up being a real solid contributor on your team a few years down the road.
FILA Cadets-69 KG – Bryce Steiert DNP.
Match #1 Bryce Steiert (Iowa) over Domenic DiPietro (Ohio) TF 12-0
Match #2 Bryce Steiert (Iowa) over Matt Ferraro (Illinois) TF 10-0
Match #3 Bryce Steiert (Iowa) over Logan Brunick (New York) TF 10-0
Match #4 Mason Manville (New Jersey) over Bryce Steiert (Iowa) Dec 5-1
Match #5 Cameron Harrell (Maryland) over Bryce Steiert (Iowa) Dec 13-7
How did you first become involved with wrestling?
I started in the youth program at the age of 5. My brother was wrestling at the time.
You won your first state title last winter, how good did it feel to achieve that accomplishment?
It felt great. But, it taught me that I have more to accomplish.
What is keeping you motivated to repeat, especially now that you are up at 160?
To continue to improve my skills and prepare me for the next level.
The jump to 145 to 160, while not uncommon is pretty impressive, how have you been able to handle putting on the additional weight, yet keeping your competitive edge?
I learned as a freshman, the hard way, that it is a long season when you focus on weight cutting and not wrestling. I decided after my freshman season I would concentrate on strength and skills. As far as competitive edge, it’s a mentality.
You have had a great off season competing at Junior duals and the Cadet National tournament in Ohio, who has been the toughest opponent you have faced so far?
It’s hard to say who the toughest opponent was this off season. At this level I have many tough wins and losses.
We’re told Purdue made a late push to recruit you, but you were a Panther all the way, what is it about the UNI program that has you completely hooked?
For me it is the best combination of faith, family, and wrestling.
Schwab bring a ton of intensity and energy to everything he does, what are your thoughts on him?
He builds excitement to the program and the progression is exciting and noticeable.
Is 157 the plan for college?
Yes.
You come from a nationally recognized high school program, one that has produced several D1 wrestlers (some of them soon to be teammates). Describe the effect of working in the WS-R room, and working with Coach Whitcome has had on you.
I was blessed with a incredible high school coach. Coach Whitcome has allowed me to better my style of wrestling. He has provided me endless opportunities. Many of my high school teammates had the same goals I had. We trained together and motivated each other to achieve those goals. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in any other program.
Anything else you want future Panther fans to know about you?
Panther fans are amazing. I am looking forward to all the opportunities UNI wrestling has to offer me as a wrestler, student, and man of faith.
****
Great stuff from the future Panther, and we really look forward to what Bryce can do in the Purple and Gold. For now let’s take a look at his big wins at Fargo:
Steiert vs. #19 Paden Moore
Steiert vs. #8 Chris Weiler
Steiert vs. #14 Weston Dobler
[…] already added Iowans Max Thomsen and Bryce Steiert, Schwab has addressed his upperweights by tapping into a resource that has been highly successful […]