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Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
Days before he became the state wrestling champ at 112 pounds, Ben Morgan said he was thrilled just to be competing at Xcel Energy Center as an eighth grader.
Imagine how excited he was on Saturday, March 1, when he defeated Apple Valley’s Matt Kelliher, 3-1, in the title match in front of a roaring crowd.
Morgan said his winning move was born mostly out of desperation, but it certainly paid off.
 “There was only 10 seconds left,” he explained. “That was just a single and I just went for it (left). I guess I knew I could shoot on him so I just had to try it.”
Head coach Billy Pierce and Ben’s father Gordy were sitting matside, and like the huge Forest Lake following that was in the lower bowl of Xcel, they were off their seats and screaming when Morgan rallied for the win.
No one was yelling louder and longer than Ben.
He kept the fans engaged with one of the most entertaining and spontaneous celebrations in recent memory.
Circling the mat, Morgan whooped and hollered, until he eventually jumped into his father’s arms and burst into tears.
Prior to the championship match, Morgan (43-3) had never defeated Kelliher in folkstyle. That goes back to last year at Nationals, and this past holiday season at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament.
In December, Kelliher won easily, 15-0, but that gave Pierce and Morgan something to work on. Defense and being on the bottom were identified as two key areas.
“Ben has really put in a lot of time to correct some of the mistakes he made in that match. I don’t think he’s given up an offensive point since then,” Pierce said.
“As an 8th grader to be a state champ is pretty special. It’s rarely done; I think there’s less than a dozen kids that have ever done it, so he joins a very elite group.”
Morgan’s win makes him the 16th state champion in Forest Lake’s wrestling history, and according to activities director Joel Olson, Morgan is also the youngest Ranger to accomplish such a feat.
“Beating him (Kelliher) here and winning the state championship is just a great day,” Morgan said.
Janssen takes 5th
Earlier in the day, Charlie Janssen battled through a difficult draw and grabbed fifth place in the 140-pound weight class, with an 8-3 decision over Mike Cullen of Coon Rapids.
After beating Cullen for the second time in three weeks, Janssen (37-12) was rather subdued for a top finish at the state tournament, but Pierce explained why.
In Friday’s semifinals against Andrew Balzer of Mounds View, Janssen was leading 6-1 after the first period, but then got cradled and pinned in the second.
“He was wrestling great, and you just feel for the kid,” Pierce shared. “I know he was disappointed and you feel that  disappointment with him.”
Three weeks prior, Janssen had pinned Balzer in the finals of the Suburban East Conference tourney. On Saturday, Balzer would take second place.
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP: After suffering through a heartbreaking loss in the semifinals, Charlie Janssen responded with victory over Mike Cullen to win fifth place at 140 pounds.
“I was very proud of him. He could have easily given up and cashed it in but he battled back,” Pierce said of Janssen.
“He showed up today and probably wrestled what I think may have been his best match all season.”
All five Forest Lake wrestlers started their 2008 state wrestling experience on Wednesday night, with three of them hoping they would have a chance to wrestle again after Session 1.
On Feb. 27 at Xcel Energy Center, Morgan opened at 112 pounds and won rather quickly by fall. Kevin Nelson lost 10-6 at 125 pounds (to the eventual state champion), and just as Janssen was finishing up a 3-2 decision at 140 pounds, Andy Kolbow was losing by fall in the 135-pound weight class.
At 171 pounds, Brent Kolbow was the final Ranger on the mat, and he was also defeated by fall.
All three Rangers who lost on Wednesday were given an opportunity to continue on in Thursday afternoon’s wrestlebacks, but only one was able to advance.
Andy Kolbow was pinned by Logan Kortan of Albert Lea, while Nelson lost to Wayzata’s Danny Zilverberg, 5-0.
Brent Kolbow (34-12) took on Colton Graham of Roseville — who Kolbow defeated at the SEC championships — and he won again at state, with a 3-1 decision.
His high school wrestling career would come to a close while he was trying to work his way through the consolation bracket, losing a 3-0 decision to Luke Erickson of Bloomington, one match away from placing.
Pierce was happy to see five of his wrestlers make it to state, and believed his squad did an exceptional job with improving throughout the year.
“It was kind of a long, rough season,” he said, “and it was great to see our guys really peak at the right time.”
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