Ben graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1999, lettering two years in football, wrestling and one year in basketball. He was Honorable Mention All-Big Rivers his senior year in football. In track, Ben was Team Field MVP and sectional qualifier in the shot. Ben attended UW-Stout in Menomonie, WI. As a 6’ 4”, 305 pound tackle, Ben led interference for the Stout backfield. In his junior year, Ben played 700 plus plays and only allowed one quarterback sack in addition to having 65% of the running plays come behind him. He was D3 Football Don Hanson All-American, and unanimous First Team All-WIAC selection. As a senior, Ben was elected captain. He gave up zero quarterback sacks and recorded 25 pancake blocks. Again 65% of the running plays followed Big Ben. He was honored to many D3 All-American teams as well as unanimous First Team All-WIAC Offensive Tackle. Ben was selected as a member of the WIAC Centennial All-Time Football Team in 2012 and was inducted into the UW-Stout Hall of Fame in 2014. Ben was also a member of Team USA in the Aztec Bowl (D3 All Star Game) versus the Mexican National Team in 2004. UW-Stout offensive line coach, now Northern Illinois head coach Rod Carey states, In my opinion, Ben is the best offensive lineman to ever play at Stout and one of the top 5 to ever play in the WIAC Conference. I believe Ben could have played on any of the lines I have coached. Ben taught me that you could be a big, mean offensive lineman on the field and still have a heart the size of Mt. Rushmore. He is one of the classiest men I know and am really proud to call him a friend. Ben graduated from UW-Stout with a degree in Business Administration in 2004. He lives in Chetek, is active in the community and is an assistant football coach at Chetek Weyerhaeuser High School.