Ben and Luke Ashmore Are Proving That Texas Wrestlers Can Compete With The Best of the Best, and Will Be In Fargo At The End of the Month To Prove Just That
By Andrew Hipps “Staff Writer
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What: 2005 ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals
When: July 23-30 in Fargo, N.D.
About The Tournament: Up to 4,500 wrestlers from 49 states competing at the FargoDome on the campus of North Dakota State University. Boys can compete in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, girls can compete in freestyle only.
When you think of wrestling in Texas, one name quickly jumps to mind: Brandon Slay, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist. But soon, very soon, you might be able to add the name Ben Ashmore to the short but growing list of Texas wrestling greats.
en, who will soon be entering his senior year at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas, is garnering the attention of many major division I collegiate wrestling programs across the country. The first team Asics All-American has already won the National Prep Championships twice, and many believe he has the potential to be a future collegiate star at 125 pounds.
That’s why John Smith, head coach of the three-time defending national champion Oklahoma State Cowboys has already visited his school. That’s why the Minnesota coaching staff has ventured into the Lone Star State. That’s why Arizona State head coach Thom Ortiz is planning to visit on August 2. That’s why Lehigh has called multiple times. That’s why Michigan is interested.
“This is our first year having to deal with the recruiting process, so it’s pretty exciting, but overwhelming too,” says Ben’s father, Ben Sr. “We’ve got probably over a hundred letters and our phone is ringing off the wall. A lot of teams are really looking for 125-pounders right now. It sounds like they are in high demand. We have received lots and lots of phone calls and visits already. It’s overwhelming, but it’s neat. It’s what he has worked hard for.”
Ben began wrestling at the age of four, along with brother Luke, who is one year younger and also considered to be one of the top high school wrestlers in the country. His father wrestled in high school and had stints in college at Richland and Southwest Texas, so it was only natural that he introduced the sport to his sons. They were homeschooled by their mother, Robin, all the way up until high school. She taught them during the day, grilled them on math, science, and a variety of subjects. In the afternoon, she did conditioning training with her sons. And when Ben Sr. arrived home from work, he would take his two sons to the wrestling room attached to their house, and teach them the fundamentals of wrestling. That routine continued until Ben was 10 years old.
“I liked wrestling right away, but I didn’t always have success,” says Ben. “My brother and I played all sports, but once I really got into wrestling, I liked it the most. I just stuck with it. I’d win maybe one out of every five matches when I first started.”
Ben is quick to give credit for what he has accomplished in the sport to his younger but bigger brother, who he has trained with much of his life.
“Luke is a little bigger than me, which I think is another reason why I’ve been able to have success,” says Ben. “He’s such a good wrestler, a nationally ranked guy in a larger weight division (Luke will wrestle at 140 in Fargo). I get used to wrestling someone who is good and weighs more. So when I get out there, I don’t have a problem because I’m used to wrestling bigger guys.”
Added his father, “They have always had to wrestle each other, up to the time they were in high school, but then Luke started gaining more weight. So we kind of backed them off. ”
Later this month, Ben and Luke will make the voyage to Fargo, North Dakota to compete in the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals, which is widely considered the premier event for high school wrestlers.
“If you win that tournament, you’re considered number one,” says Ben, who plans on entering the freestyle draw at 119 pounds. “That’s a real prestigious thing. I finished third two years ago (in Cadets), but injured my back last year, so I wasn’t able to wrestle. I’m hoping to win it this year.”
Luke won his first National Preps title this year, after finishing second in 2004. Ben won his first national title when he was nine years old. When he was 10, he joined nationally renowned club, Team Monday, located in Dallas, and coached by Olympic Gold Medalists Kenny Monday and Kendall Cross. He kept progressing ever year.
His wrestling resume is now long enough to stretch vertically across the country, from the plains of Texas to the lakes of Minnesota. He has grown to love the sport not only because of its extreme demands, but also because of its life lessons.
“I always say that wrestling has to be the toughest sport around,” says Ben. “The way we work out compared to all other sports is unbelievable. The shape you have to be in just to be a wrestler is unbelievable. We work out two and three times a day, running and having wrestling practices, it’s a real tough sport to keep up with. I like the fact that it forces you to be in shape and also teaches you self discipline. Anybody who has been a wrestler will always be successful. Many people who are high up in the government, and have big businesses, used to be wrestlers. It just gives you that edge. It takes so much discipline to be good. I’m just hoping that it will help me down the road in my business life.”
So how does he feel about being considered one of the top high school wrestlers in the country?
“It’s cool,” says Ben, sounding as if he is describing a new video game. “I wasn’t always successful, and I had to work really hard to get here, so it’s cool to see that all my hard work paid off in the end. Hopefully it will continue to pay off. My dream is to win the Olympics, so I’m hoping to continue to do well.”
Many believe that Oklahoma State is the early front runner for his services, considering that both of his coaches, Monday and Cross, won NCAA titles while donning Cowboy singlets.
“The fact that Oklahoma State is calling is really cool, because they are the number one college in the nation for wrestling right now,” says Ben. “So to hear from them is really a cool thing. Just to be called or asked to come there is a big deal. They train for the Olympics and have had a lot of Olympic champions.”
Although he plans on signing during the early signing period (November 9-16), he insists that he is still very much leaving his options open at this point.
“I’d like to make sure whatever school I sign with has a top-10 wrestling program,” says Ben. “The program has to have good coaching and good workout partners, because I’m used to having good coaching, from guys like Kenny Monday and Kendall Cross. I’ve always had nationally ranked guys to wrestle, as well as bigger opponents, and that’s the main reason why I got good. I also want to make sure that the school has a good education program, because I also want to get my degree and start my own business someday.”
Says his father of the decision making process: “I’m pretty much leaving it up to him.”
No doubt, the future looks extremely bright for both Ashmore brothers. And Texas wrestling fans may soon have two more names to add to a growing list of talented wrestlers from the Lone Star State.
Andrew Hipps also receives feedback on his articles at [email protected].
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