06/12/2026
WE WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE CLASS OF 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES TO BE HONORED THIS SEPTEMBER.
WE'LL START WITH: BEN KJAR-WRESTLING
Judging by his athletic accomplishments, Ben Kjar nicely blends into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame’s all-time roster. With his personal story, he stands out. That phrase borrows from the title of the documentary film starring the wrestler himself. “Standout: The Ben Kjar Story,” goes far beyond wrestling to deliver a powerful message of the way Ben has gone about his life.
On the screen, the graduate of Viewmont High School and Utah Valley University acted out the experiences that created “a heartfelt story (that) inspires anyone who has ever felt they don’t fit in,” and serves as an “unforgettable portrait of perseverance,” according to the movie’s promotional material.
Born with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare, craniofacial disorder, Ben has crafted a life story with multiple layers. This point is vital, though: Wrestling is the reason Ben is being inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.
At Viewmont HS, he became a three-time state champion (and there’s a good story below attached to that label) with a 125-6 career record. He didn’t even allow an opponent’s takedown in his senior season of 2002, while leading the Vikings to their first wrestling state championship.
Ben later became UVU’s first All-America wrestler, finishing fourth in the 2011 NCAA Championships after a semifinal loss to Anthony Robles, another star of his own inspirational movie (as well as Ben’s). Having never lost a home match in college, Ben was named UVU’s Male Athlete of the Year. And in 2023, following a lengthy absence from competition, he won a Masters World Greco-Roman title.
Everything else that Ben dealt with outside of the wrestling room, in terms of bullying, judgment and mistreatment in his youth makes his multidimensional story that much more meaningful. As he said in the movie trailer, “I would just put my head down and try to hide.” The parallel tracks of his wrestling success and personal triumphs provide great material for his professional speaking career.
His parents, Scott and Stana, established the framework. As Ben discussed in a franklinplanner.com podcast, his mother once told him, “Ben, I see somebody who’s different, who’s born to make a difference, and you my friend, are born to stand out.” Ben’s conclusion: “That would change my life.” He became the confident, determined wrestler who chose to have that “3XSC” (three-time state champion) patch sewn onto his jacket after his first title as a sophomore. You know the ending: “I never had to take that patch off.” As Ben explained, “I had people in my corner, encouraging me, that I call my ‘shot callers.’ They’re my encouragers, the people that hold me accountable.” He’s hoping to do the same for his three children. CONGRATULATIONS TO BEN KJAR!
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