Ben Crisler
Wrestler ⋅ Class of 1980
Thorton High School
Mr. Crisler was a tremendous athlete at Thorton High School. During his high school career he played on the Varsity Football Championships Team for 3 years and won all conference twice. He played on the Varsity Baseball Championship team for 3 years, being named all suburban.
His wrestling attributes are even more significant and that is of course what we are honoring him for.
Ben wrestled on the Varsity Team for all 4 years of high school. The team was conference champions 3 times and Sectional Champions 2 times. Ben’s personal record was even more outstanding.
His overall record was 43 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie in dual meets, 32 wins, 2 losses and 0 ties in tournamanets for an overall record of 75-5-1. All of his losses cam during his Freshman year.
Ben won 4 Sectional Championships (there were no districts in those days), 3 South Suburban Titles, and 3 State Championships. He was the 2nd person in the history of Illinois wrestling to achieve that honor. He won the 133 lb. title in 1953, the 145 lb. title in 1954, and the 154 lb. title in 1955. As a freshman he won 1 and lost 1 and did not place.
Deceased March 1991