Junior wrestler Jeremy Stierly refuses to smile.

At first it’s puzzling why the 141-pounder does so, since he’s 33–4 overall and 16–2 in dual meets this season with nine major decisions, four technical falls and one pin fall.

It’s also mystifying why the Pottstown, Pa., native doesn’t show his teeth too often even though he’s ranked sixth in the country in his weight class and is participating in nationals this weekend for the first time in his career.

“Jeremy just doesn’t smile,” said 149-pound junior Blaine Woszczak, one of Stierly’s roommates and best friends. “He’ll win a tournament and he won’t smile until we’re on the bus ride home.”

But Stierly said his straight face is just part of his all-around toughness that makes him successful.

“It’s a tough sport, and it’s not really a joke when I get out there to me,” Stierly said. “When I win [I] just feel like I won because of how hard I worked. I figured I was going to win in the first place. It all has to do with the wrestling mentality. … Sometimes it’s a little hard to have a lot of fun, especially when you’re working really hard and thinking about your opponents and upcoming competition.”

This hard work is what put Stierly over the top this year and out of obscurity.

Stierly attended Penn State-Berks his freshman year and didn’t wrestle, even though he was a successful wrestler at Owen J. Roberts High School. He transferred to Ithaca College last year and was behind John Paxos ’09, a former All-American, on the 141-pound depth chart. While he said it was difficult being behind Paxos, it didn’t discourage him.

“A lot of guys could take that the wrong way and kind of just say like, ‘Screw it or whatever,’” Stierly said. “But I just used that and just tried to get myself better every day, and that’s why I was wrestling in the spring time last year, because I just hate to sit out.”

All off-season Stierly methodically trained, trying to improve. He took part in drills with Assistant

Coach Marc Israel, who’s been instrumental in much of the team’s development. He also worked out extensively with several teammates. Head Coach Marty Nichols said it’s Stierly’s work ethic that separates him from the rest.

“Every little thing he tries to get it right [and] make sure it’s right,” Nichols said. “He eats right. He trains right. He’s a 3.8 GPA student. He does everything you ask him to do and then some. He’s working out when you don’t ask him to work out. You’ll tell him to back off sometimes because he works out so much.”

Stierly’s effort translates into a smart, physical wrestler who takes a lot of shots using his strategic approach. Stierly said he likes to get a sense of his opponent first, wear him down and then be explosive when it matters.

Woszczak said Stierly’s ability to come in and fill Paxos’ shoes shows how deep the Bombers’ roster is.

“It represents how strong we are at that weight class,” Woszczak said. “Last year we had an All-American there. This year we got the backup of last year ranked [sixth] in the country. It shows we’ve got a lot of depth.”

Now that Stierly is so close to winning a national title and being recognized as an All-American, he said he couldn’t be more excited.

“It feels great,” he said. “Last year I wrestled hard, and I was there every day, and I was devoted even when those guys were going to nationals.”

The big question remains, though: If the No. 4-ranked Bombers fulfill their goals and win a national championship, with Stierly winning his weight class, will he smile?

“In that case, I would smile,” he said.