Steinbugl's first career collegiate performance was of championship caliber. The rookie pole vaulter cleared 4.50 m (14' 9") to finish third amongst collegiate entrants at the 12th annual Bucknell Bison Opener. The Red Flash rookie is only one of 25 NCAA Division I vaulters to have cleared that height thus far this season. Had he been around to pole vault 4.50m at the 2012 NEC Outdoor Championships, he would have finished in a first-place tie with conference champion Tom FitzSimons.