Army West Point Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant Wrestling Coach
- Email:
Steve Bleise joined the coaching staff in August 2023, and completed his third season at Army in 2025-26, serving under both current Class of 1972 Head Men’s Wrestling Coach Troy Nickerson as well as previous head coach Kevin Ward.
In 2025-26, Bleise helped guide the team to a 5-5 dual record on a schedule which featured three duals vs. Big Ten Conference opponents, and another two vs. other ranked opponents. Army finished 5-1 in EIWA duals, including a signature 19-18 win in the Star Dual at Navy secured by a 2-0 decision by Brady Colbert at heavyweight in the final bout. Army’s win of Navy was its third in a row and eighth over the past 12 years.
Nine Army wrestlers made the podium at the EIWA Championships in 2025-26, with Ethan Berginc (133 lbs), Gunner Filipowicz (165 lbs) and Brady Colbert (285 lbs) earning automatic berths to the NCAA Championships, held in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, Braden Basile (141 lbs) made the NCAA Championships as an at-large.
Berginc’s trip to the NCAAs was his fourth—becoming just the fifth four-time qualifier in program history. Berginc also finished as EIWA runner-up in his senior season. Berginc and Colbert each recorded wins at the NCAA Championships, with Colbert picking up a first round championship bracket victory and going 2-2 overall at the event.
During the regular season, Colbert and Filipowicz each won EIWA Wrestler of the Week accolades. Filipowicz also earned his third trip to the Southern Scuffle finals on January 4, as Army sent six to the podium at the signature mid-season event in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In his second year at West Point in 2024-25, Bleise helped guide seven Black Knights to the NCAA Championships, the most since 2021 and tied for the second-most in program history.
Army finished third overall at the EIWA Championships, and won the star dual over Navy for the seventh time in 11 years. Trae McDaniel also captured the EIWA championship at 149 lbs, to go along with Ethan Berginc’s 133 lb title at the Black Knight Invitational, and Gunner Filipowicz’s 165 lb and Army’s team title at the Southern Scuffle.
Bleise’s first year in 2023-24 season was one of Army’s most storied in its recent history. Seven wrestlers placed at the EIWA Championships, with six qualifying for the NCAA Championships. The year culminated in Kansas City, Mo., with Ben Pasiuk becoming the 20th All-American in Army history, with an eighth-place finish at 174 lbs in the NCAA Championships. Pasiuk also became just the fourth four-time NCAA qualifier in program history.
Bleise came to the banks of the Hudson after spending two seasons at Cal State Bakersfield as an assistant coach. In the 2022-23 season, the Roadrunners had a student-athlete at the NCAA Tournament. While at Bakersfield, Bleise coached three national qualifiers, including PAC-12 Champion Dom Ducharme at 184 lbs. as well as PAC-12 finalist and three-time national qualifier Chane Rich at 133 lbs.
Prior to being at Cal State Bakersfield, Bleise was a volunteer assistant coach at Old Dominion University until the program was cut prior to the 2020-21 season. While at Old Dominion, he helped the Monarchs to a 10-9 overall record and a 6-2 record in the MAC. Bleise also coached four national qualifiers, working closely with conference finalist and eventual two-time All-American Killian Cardinale. In the 2019-20 season, he was named the National Collegiate Open Coach of the Year.
Bleise wrestled at Northern Illinois for three seasons. He also spent two collegiate seasons at Minnesota. In his undergraduate career, he was a four-time NCAA Championship Qualifier at three different weight classes (141, 149, and 157 lbs.). He was also the 2016 Midlands finalist at 141 pounds. While at Minnesota, he earned Academic All-Big Ten Accolades and served as team captain.
