Cole Konrad (Photo/Johnnie Johnson)The past decade or so, the Minnesota lineup has been anchored by a string of top-notch big men. In addition to Konrad and Lesnar, the Gophers' roster has included NCAA All-Americans Garrett Lowney, Shelton Benjamin and Billy Pierce.
Minnesota is focused on continuing that heavyweight legacy with its next generation of big men, Ben Berhow and Joe Nord. While Cole Konrad campaigns for a second straight NCAA heavyweight title as a senior, these two freshmen who have become good friends gain valuable experience as the "heir apparents" to be the next great Gopher big man.
Uncommon commonality
Ben Berhow and Joe Nord share a number of common points beyond dreams of being the starting heavyweight for the University of Minnesota. Both men are from small communities within the state of Minnesota; Ben hails from Hayward, near the Iowa border, and wrestled for Albert Lea High School … while Joe is from Waconia, just outside the Twin Cities. Both are Minnesota high school state champs -- Ben in the heavyweight class, while Joe won his titles at 215. (The two never wrestled each other in high school.) Both participated in sports beyond wrestling in high school … which translates to a degree of athleticism not always seen in wrestlers who tip the scales at over 200 pounds.
"When we train heavyweights, we expect them to do everything the lighter-weight guys do," according to Marty Morgan, assistant coach at Minnesota. "There's no slacking off, no cutback in the amount of running or weight work or practice matches. We want our heavyweights to go the full six minutes without slowing down."
"Both of these guys are great athletes -- athletic, quick on their feet," adds Coach Morgan.
Meet Ben Berhow
Ben Berhow got his start in wrestling in kindergarten. "Lots of my friends were involved in the sport," says Ben. "Albert Lea has a good tradition as a strong program. As I got older, I started attending the varsity matches. That fueled my interest in the sport."
Ben Berhow (Photo/The Guillotine)In his assessment of Ben Berhow, long-time Albert Lea High School head coach Larry Goodnature says, "He wrestles like a 150-pounder. Quick, great at takedowns, excellent balance for a big man … lots of strength."
Coach Goodnature adds, "Ben is very aggressive. He led the team in takedowns -- the first time a heavyweight has led that category here. He also scored lots of pins."
"He has a great work ethic," the coach continues. "He was definitely one of the leaders on the team."
"We try to get good competition for our team, participating in top tournaments in the region. Ben wrestled the top competition with confidence."
While at Albert Lea, Ben Berhow built a 101-19 record … concluding his high school career with a 47-2 record his senior year, and claiming the heavyweight title at the 2006 Minnesota state tournament after losing in the 215-pound finals the previous year. When asked if it helped to have that finals experience going into his title quest his last year in high school, Ben replied emphatically, "Absolutely! I had an idea of what to expect, and to realize that it's OK to be a bit nervous considering the circumstances. But it helped me to channel that nervousness into something positive and realize my long-time dream of being a state champ."
Ben Berhow (Photo/The Guillotine)"When I was in high school, I would participate in Gopher clinics," according to Ben. "I'd get guys like Brandon Eggum and Shelton Benjamin to sign my posters. It's really an honor to be part of a program that I've always admired, and be where these guys I admired in school once wrestled."
Albert Lea's Larry Goodnature concurs: "Minnesota has a great track record with heavyweights. If you're going to wrestle in the state of Minnesota, the Gophers are your team."
When asked to talk about what made Ben Berhow attractive to the Golden Gophers, Coach Marty Morgan said, "He's very comfortable as a heavyweight. And, wrestling for Albert Lea, he understands what it means to compete for a top program and go up against the best competition … He's also strong academically."
"I think of Ben as a great friend," adds his high school coach. "He's always willing to talk to the grade school and middle school wrestlers."
Get to know Joe Nord
Joe Nord's first introduction to wrestling was in second grade, at a small freestyle club started by his father John (who played football in the USFL, and was once professional wrestler Nord the Barbarian).
Joe Nord (Photo/The Guillotine)Joe Nord fulfilled that prophecy … winning back-to-back 215-pound Minnesota high school state titles in his junior and senior year in 2005 and 2006.
In seventh and eighth grade, Joe competed at 160 pounds. Over the next four years, Joe amassed a 117-22 record, with over half of those wins -- 62 to be exact -- achieved by pin.
As a freshman, he experienced a growth spurt, and, as he describes it, "shared" the role as the starter in both the 189 and 215-pound weight classes with a senior. In his junior year, Joe assumed the sole starter role at 215, and earned third place honors in the Christmas Tournament in Rochester, Minnesota … and, at his first appearance at the Minnesota high school state tournament, took home his first state title.
Senior year was even more successful. According to Coach Wagener, Joe was the only wrestler in the history of the Waconia program to go undefeated his senior year, with a perfect 36-0 record. Just as impressive, no opponent was able to score a takedown on Joe his final year in high school. The senior co-captain took first place at the Rochester Christmas Tournament … and won his second 215-pound title in the Minnesota state finals.
Joe Nord (Photo/The Guillotine)"He moves like a 125-pounder."
Coach Wagener adds, "Joe put 100% into every practice. He listened to everything we told him … In fact, he came back to the (wrestling) room over Thanksgiving, and talked to the kids, saying, �Listen to your coaches.'"
"He's a really nice kid, very kind. He always helped out in the room, even working with the seventh graders."
In addition to wrestling, Joe was a three-year starter for Waconia's football team, playing offensive guard and defensive line. He finished his senior year as team captain, and received an All-Conference Honorable Mention.
While in high school, Joe got a first-hand look at the University of Minnesota wrestling program by participating in J Robinson's 28-Day Intensive Wrestling Camp the summer after his sophomore year. "I got to meet and work out with guys like Konrad, (Roger) Kish," says Joe. "I really like Minnesota's attitude. It's all about hard work, developing a good work ethic … J Rob and the coaches really seem focused on developing wrestlers more than as athletes, but as well-rounded individuals, too."
When asked to weigh in Joe's qualities that caught the eye of the Golden Gophers, assistant coach Marty Morgan says, "He's tall for a heavyweight (6'4"), and will grow in weight in college. (Right now he's at 230 pounds.) He wrestles like a lighter-weight wrestler, very agile … He has a great work ethic, and trains hard. He's also strong academically."
Experience is the best teacher
Both Ben Berhow and Joe Nord are taking advantage of their redshirt freshman status, getting accustomed to the academic rigors of a major university … and the athletic demands of a top-tier wrestling program.
Both men are gaining real-world collegiate wrestling experience in actual competition in open tournaments. Ben suffered a sprain at the Omaha Open, and was forced to forfeit a couple matches, resulting in a 5-2 record … but, as he points out, "I have not lost a match outright." Joe placed third at the same tournament.
The two also participated in the North Dakota State Open, and after winning their way through the bracket (each getting a pin along the way), met in the heavyweight finals… where the two were declared co-champions.
Ben and Joe are also gaining unbeatable experience working out in the Minnesota practice room. As Ben puts it, "You get to go up against Marty Morgan, Cole Konrad -- Brock Lesnar comes in sometimes, too … Great guys who have been up against tough competition, and became champions." Joe adds, "When you wrestle the best guys like Konrad and Lesnar, you get better."
With their impressive mat credentials, winning attitude and strong work ethic, Joe Nord and Ben Berhow seem to be on their way to upholding the long-standing tradition of excellence among heavyweights at the University of Minnesota.
Please Note: This story also appears in the Dec. 22 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering amateur wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote amateur wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. For information on how to subscribe to The Guillotine, click HERE!
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