2011-12: Stierly capped his career by winning the national championship at 149 pounds after two straight runner-up finishes. Seeded fourth, he opened competition with a major decision, dispatched the fifth seed in the quarterfinal round and posted a double-overtime decision over the eighth seed in his semifinal bout to become the second Bomber to reach the finals three times. In the championship match, he earned two points with a first-period takedown than regained his two-point lead with a third-period escape for a 3-1 win. Stierly missed nearly all of the regular season, wrestling in five dual matches (he recorded three major decisions and a technical fall) before entering the ECWC Championships as the top seed. He outscored three opponents 13-3, including a 3-1 overtime decision in the title bout, to claim his third consecutive conference crown. Stierly was named a first-team academic all-American for the second consecutive season and became just the fourth Ithaca athlete – in any sport – to earn academic all-America recognition three years in a row. He was named to the ECWC All-Academic Team and was picked as an NWCA Scholar All-American, earning both honors for the third straight year.
2010-11: Stierly became the first Bomber in 10 years to reach the NCAA finals two years in row. He dropped a one-point decision to the meet’s top seed to record his second consecutive second-place finish. Stierly lost only other bout all year, finishing the year 22-2, pinning three opponents and winning three times by major decision including an 11-0 win in the NCAA semifinals. That victory was one of six shutouts he recorded on the season. Stierly became the 15th Ithaca athlete (and second wrestler) named to the academic all-America team twice, earning first-team recognition. He finished third at the state championships for the second straight season and was named ECWC Wrestler of the Week for his performance. Stierly was named an NWCA Scholar All-American for the second year in a row.
2009-10: Stierly was named ECWC Wrestler of the Year after reaching the NCAA final at 141 pounds. He was one of just two unseeded wrestlers to advance to the championship match, posting three wins including a one-point win over the sixth seed (who’d lost to just one Division III opponent all year) in the opening round and a 2-1 sudden-death overtime win over the third seed. Stierly won the ECWC title to earn his first trip to nationals. He also won individual titles at the season-opening Ithaca Invitational and York’s Spartan Classic (helping Ithaca win team crowns at both events). Stierly earned all-state honors by placing third – the highest finish by a Bomber – at the New York State Championships. He earned third-team academic all-America honors and was named an NWCA Scholar All-American. He also earned a spot on the inaugural ECWC All-Academic Team. He recorded Ithaca’s top finish at Cornell’s Body Bar Invitational, placing third (the Bombers were the only Division III team participating).
2008-09: Stierly won six of his 13 victories by major decision, good for third on the team. He was a place-winner at three tournaments, kicking off the season with a fourth-place showing the Ithaca Invitational, taking sixth at the Sunshine Open and recording his best finish – a runner-up effort – at the New York State B Championships.
High School: A 2008 graduate of Owen J. Roberts High School, Stierly was coached by Steve DeRafelo. He won 121 career matches and was a two-time state qualifier, placing as high as eighth.
Personal: A business administration major, he is the son of Edward and Dana Stierly.
Career Statistics
|
|
Overall |
Dual |
|
|
|
|
|
W |
L |
W |
L |
MAJ |
TF |
F |
|
2008-09 |
21 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
|
2009-10 |
36 |
5 |
16 |
2 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
|
2010-11 |
22 |
2 |
15 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
|
2011-12 |
8 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
Totals |
87 |
18 |
37 |
3 |
23 |
8 |
7 |
