This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Ben Kjar knew something was up when complete strangers who may have never heard of Utah Valley wanted to know how they could get their hands on Wolverine apparel.
Kjar, who came to UVU because he believed in the school's burgeoning wrestling program and coach Greg Williams, saw his dreams come true Saturday when he became the school's first ever wrestling All-American.
"I'm taking it all in," said Kjar, a senior who finished fourth in the 125-pound weight class at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia. "It's phenomenal, man.
"Being on the podium with All-Americans beside me, it was unreal."
Kjar, one of only seven unseeded wrestlers to achieve All-America status, scored a series of upsets to claim his prize. The top eight in each weight class qualified.
UVU senior Flint Ray just missed claiming fourth at 133 pounds. He placed fifth with a 3-2 mark, while senior and Justin Morrill was 0-2 at 144 pounds.
"It all came together for him here this weekend," Williams said. "Everyone that he wrestled here at this tournament was very tough. For him to put this run together and to earn that All-American, that's the dream. Ben's been coming here for years and years dreaming about standing up on that podium and it will be an emotional time when he does that tonight."
Kjar, who first came to the championships 10 years ago as a spectator, had been taking photos of the champions in his weight class since 2007 and putting the snaps in his locker as motivation.
"Dreams can come true, you know," he said.
Brandon Precin, a two-time All-American from Northwestern, defeated Kjar in the third-place match.
Family, including his high school coach from Viewmont, was cheering Kjar on. Eventually, the audience began to back this unknown Utah wrestler. Kjar defeated three wrestlers seeded in the top seven.
"I felt like I couldn't go wrong," said Kjar, who finished his career as UVU's winningest wrestler at 129-35. He also owns the single-season mark with 39 victories, that coming in 2007.