Ben Peterson has accomplished a great deal in his wrestling career, both collegiately and internationally. Now he will be rewarded for his efforts when he joins eight other former ISU athletic icons for induction into the 1998 ISU Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

Peterson, a Comstock, Wis. native, came to Iowa State on a partial scholarship for wrestling. After all he accomplished as a wrestler, some should shake their heads and wonder why.

He was a three-time All-American at Iowa State from 1969-72 at 190 pounds, and was also the only Iowa State wrestler (and fourth U.S. wrestler) to be named to three Olympic teams. In those three Olympics, he took two medals.

At the 1972 Munich games, teammates Peterson and Dan Gable brought home gold, and the late Chris Taylor brought home a bronze. Peterson’s brother John brought home a silver medal.

“Dan was the direct reason why I got to the Olympics,” Peterson said. “He gave me the confidence and the ability to sharpen my skills and made international competition a reality.

“The process of competing to get to the Olympics was grueling and intense,” Peterson said. “I finished in the top six and then won two matches out of three to get in.”

Also, Peterson credits his coach, Dr. Harold Nichols, and other teammates for telling him to train for the Olympics and to set his sights on it.

In 1976 in Montreal, Peterson brought home a silver medal while his brother brought home a gold.

Finally, in 1980, he was selected for the third time to compete at the Olympics, but they were in Moscow and the U.S. did not participate for political reasons.

As a wrestler at Iowa State, Peterson racked up two NCAA titles and three Big Eight Championships.

In 1970, Peterson won his first Big Eight title but finished fourth at the NCAA Championships. That same year, he was named as an All-American for the first time.

In 1971, he placed first at both the Big Eight and NCAA Championships. As a result, he earned All-American status again.

Of course 1972 was the golden year for Peterson and ISU wrestling in general. He defended Big Eight and NCAA titles, was named All-American and capped it all off with Olympic gold.

Since then, the 48-year-old Peterson has not let up from being active in the sport, or in life.

After his second Olympic stint, Peterson opened up his summer camp, Camp of Champs Wrestling Camps, and spends part of the year promoting his camp.

He also has been an assistant pastor for the last six years, as well as the wrestling coach at Maranatha Baptist College in Wisconsin for the last 22 years. Yet, he still finds time for his wife Jan and their four kids.

When asked by ISU athletic director Gene Smith if he would be interested in accepting the invitation to be a member of the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame, Peterson said he was “honored” to accept it.

He continues to talk to Gable from time to time. Gable has attended his camp once this summer.

“When Dan went to the Olympics, John and myself grabbed onto his coattails and said ‘Well, Dan, if you are going, we are going as well,'” Peterson said. “That just proves how much he meant to us as wrestlers and what he has done for the sport.”