Wyandot Sports Hall of Fame

Ben Stockmaster is a 1965 Mohawk High School graduate who was the first Wyandot County native to qualify for the state wrestling tournament and received an offer to try out for the San Diego Chargers.

He was a three-year letter winner in track, a four-year letter winner in football and three-year letterman in wrestling, where he made his biggest impact. Wrestling at Mohawk began in the 1961-62 season, and Stockmaster was recruited to wrestle in the middle of the season. After losing the first two matches, he ended his wrestling career with a 96-6 record.

Wrestling at 165 pounds, he had zero points scored against him in the regular season of his junior year and was a member of the 1963-64 undefeated wrestling team coached by Marv Rader. His senior year he advanced to the state competition, where he made history as the first wrestler from Wyandot County to go to the state tournament.

His success is most remarkable because during his wrestling career as the OSHAA had no divisions for wrestling. Stockmaster was wrestling against what we refer to today as Division I schools such as Toledo Bowsher and Cleveland Mayfield.

After high school, Stockmaster served in the Navy for four years and is a Vietnam vet. While serving in Guam and Vietnam, he became a linebacker and center for the Naval Station Bulldogs of Guam. Stockmaster was chosen as the offensive center for the Naval All-star team that played at the Rice Bowl at Berkey Field in Yokosuka, Japan.

Upon coming home from Vietnam, Stockmaster was an invited walk-on for the San Diego Chargers. He declined the offer and came home to Northwest Ohio to raise his three sons, Troy, Matthew and Brent, with his wife Kay.