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Buena Vista Senior Ben Strandberg


Flowrestling
April 22, 2007
Profile on BVU Wrestler Ben Strandberg

(originally appeared in Spring 2007 BVBriefs)


Memories.

Buena Vista University and the city of Storm Lake are full of them for
Beaver wrestler Ben Strandberg. Most of them great. Some of them
painful. All of them unforgettable.

Not that you will ever hear Ben wishing that they would go away. One
look at him in his uniform reveals the ink that he will carry with him
the rest of his life as a reminder of all that he had and tragically
lost one fateful spring day six years ago.



B.J. Strandberg, Ben's older brother, was the quintessential hometown
athletic hero. He had the full package deal to go along with being one
of the most successful wrestlers in Storm Lake High School's history:
a great personality, academic success, the respect and friendship of
his teammates as well as of his opponents, tremendous family support,
and a cute girlfriend. Needless to say, there were an abundance of
smiles around town when he decided to stay in his home community to
continue his athletic career after posting over 150 prep victories.

"B.J. had a very bright future as a collegiate wrestler and there was
no doubt in my mind that he would be an All-American at least once
before he graduated from BVU," recalls former Buena Vista wrestling
coach Al Baxter. "He had the desire, motivation, family support and
ability to be an outstanding wrestler at the college level."

During his freshman season, B.J. was well on his way to fulfilling the
promise that Baxter saw in him. He earned a varsity spot at 197 pounds
on a Beaver team that placed eighth at the NCAA National
Championships. He went 19-12 on the year, and although he did not
reach All-America status, the season was a success. After all, he was
only a freshman, and there would be three more years to reach those
loftier goals.

In early May, B.J. began the gradual process of moving his belongings
from his campus dorm room back to his family's home, less than a mile
away, for the summer. Taking a break from that one Saturday, he and a
group of his friends decided that they were going to go into town for
a bite to eat in B.J.'s pickup truck. Eventually, for one reason or
another, everyone besides he and his good friend Jeff Paulson decided
to stay on campus and eat in the cafeteria.

Heading north, they approached the railroad tracks that bisect the
town. According to the police report, B.J stopped completely, or
almost completely, at the tracks. He pulled ahead and was swiftly
blindsided by a train on the driver's side. Jeff escaped the collision
with a broken nose and some other minor injuries. B.J. was killed
instantly.

Ben and his dad, Jerry, were at a freestyle wrestling tournament out
of town that day. When they returned home, they found a variety of
vehicles outside of their house, including a patrol car, and
immediately knew something was amiss. A family friend exited the
house, met the car, and told the two Strandbergs the devastating news.


Ben lost more than just an older brother that day. One of his best
friends and most influential role models had been ripped away. To be
sure, the relationship between the two competitive siblings who were
only separated by two years was not always filled with hugs and tender
moments. There were often wrestling scrums between the two that broke
out, and not all of them were exactly conducted fairly and without
malice. However, as the two grew and matured, they continually found
that they had increasingly more in common and actually enjoyed each
other's company.

"We fought a lot growing up," remembers Ben. "The year that B.J. came
to Buena Vista, we got 10 times closer. I would come to campus and
work out with him after our practices. He was my best friend by the
time he passed away. We never said we loved each other growing up and
then after he came to BVU, we said it almost every time we parted."

In the weeks following the accident, the memories were overwhelmingly
painful and powerful. Ben did not want to forget about his brother,
but the constant reminders of his untimely passing, from the high
school gym where they both wrestled their home matches to the lake
where they spent time water skiing, were simply too much. He made the
decision he needed to get away.

"I just couldn't live in Storm Lake anymore. You can't go anywhere in
Storm Lake without going by the tracks."

His mom, Anna, who worked at the University, and dad agreed. They all
needed a fresh setting to attempt to cope with the tragedy. With that
mindset, the Strandbergs moved to Emmetsburg in August 2001 where Ben
had many friends and would be the most comfortable for his senior year
of high school.

"I believe Ben would have followed in his brother B.J.'s footsteps and
been a member of our team if the accident hadn't happened," says
Baxter, who knew given the set of circumstances that it was still too
soon for Ben to return and enroll for his freshman year of college at
Buena Vista.

Ben ultimately chose the University of Nebraska-Omaha and became a
two-time national qualifier. His junior season, UNO brought in a
freshman in his weight class who won the first two open invitationals
of the fall semester. Despite being ranked fourth in the nation, Ben
was told over the holiday break that he would have to beat his new
teammate at the next tournament in order to keep his varsity spot.

It was time for Ben to make another decision. Stay at UNO and be
fighting for his varsity slot for the rest of his collegiate career or
transfer to another school where he was assured of having the chance
to make an impact. He ended up selecting the same place his older
brothers Brad and B.J. had years before: Buena Vista.

"It felt like the right choice. (Buena Vista assistant coach) Pat
Wilsbacher and B.J. were in the same class, and I had heard great
things about head coach Mark Schwab. I thought I could handle it, so
two weeks later I was at Buena Vista."

Once again there was a Strandberg wrestling for the Beavers in the 197
pound weight class. Ben seemingly picked up right where B.J. left off
half a decade earlier. He went 21-11 with his new team and qualified
for nationals. Instantly, he became a team leader.

"Ben is a great example by his actions," states Schwab. "He is an
honor student, is always where he is supposed to be, and in simple
terms, he works his tail off."

Although he says he has more friends at Buena Vista than he ever did
at UNO, Ben does not regret the 3 1/2 years that he spent in Omaha. He
was a part of two national championship teams. He also had time for
healing.

"I discovered living on campus isn't the same as living in Storm Lake.
I still have to drive by the tracks and whatnot, but it's easier."

Along with his tattoos, there are plenty of artifacts around Buena
Vista to remind Ben of B.J. From a tree that was planted in his memory
to the "BJ" that is stitched on the Beaver wrestlers' singlets to the
wrestling All-American display that bears his name, there are numerous
items that keep B.J.'s memory alive. The place where Ben has one of
his fondest and final memories of his brother is a place he now goes
every day, the wrestling room in the basement of Siebens Fieldhouse.

On the Thursday before the accident, all three Strandberg brothers
came to campus to the wrestling room. Reenacting a scene that played
out countless times in the Strandberg living room, Brad, Ben and B.J.
all took turns wrestling each other.

"Brad left after awhile. B.J. and I kept wrestling until we were
exhausted. Then we just started goofing off like little kids and were
laughing at each other. I'm so glad that we had that moment together."

One last memory. Perhaps the best of all.

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