RHAM Wrestler Goes National

RHAM senior Ben Fournier, shown competing at the Central Connecticut Conference tournament last winter, will compete in the SUPER 32 Challenge in Greensboro, NC on Oct. 21-22. Photo credit – Glastonbury Sports Photography.  

Ben Fournier, a senior at RHAM High School, is proof that wrestling is a lifestyle. 

After winning a class title and finishing as the runner-up at the State Open last winter, Fournier has taken the next steps in his wrestling journey by competing in tournament across the country.

Earlier in October, Fournier competed at the Journeymen Fall Classic in New York and he now preps for his next stop in North Carolina where he will compete in the SUPER 32 Challenge, one of the nation’s preeminent preseason high school wrestling tournaments set to take place later this month.
 
“This year was obviously a big year because it is my senior year — I wanted to go to all the big tournaments,” said Fournier. “It’s fun traveling and seeing how I can compete and hold up against everyone in New England and nationally.”

After exploring a variety of athletic endeavors throughout his formative years, Fournier continued to play football and lacrosse into high school before realizing he had to make a difficult choice.

In an effort to further excel on the mats, he chose to forego both field sports prior to his junior year. The decision to wrestle year round yielded immediate dividends as he quickly worked his way up the local wrestling ranks. 
As a junior last winter, he was crowned the 106 lb. Class M State Champion, defeating Cesar Rodriguez of Platt in the title match.

Following his class title, he finished as the runner-up at the State Open, falling to Xavier High School’s Raekwon Shabazz, who was later crowned the New England Region Champion and National Champion in the weight class. 

Fournier's feats from a season ago have earned him the distinction of being ranked No. 1 in Connecticut and No. 2 throughout New England in the 106 lbs. weight class.

To sharpen his skills in the offseason, Fournier invested his time and efforts into training with luminaries of the sport. He spent an intensive two weeks in Pennsylvania training with several NCAA Division I wrestlers; including reigning national champion Pat Glory of Princeton University. This training allowed him to brush shoulders with other top national prospects, elevating his game to new heights.

“Before I was [wrestling] just doing it for fun, but it’s cool to get the experience of being able to go places with it — it’s been a lot of fun,” noted Fournier. 

Fournier said the countless hours of training and preparation that goes into being a year round wrestler can be draining, yet the rewards outweighs the daily grind.  

“Some days are better than others, but when you get your hand raised after winning the match that is the real goal,” he added. 
Heading to the national tourney in North Carolina is the next venture in what has been a wild ride since Fournier entered RHAM
High School. He had wrestled throughout youth and then had his freshman year at the high school canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He admitted that he was feeling a little “burned out” by the sport at the time but recalled having that spark reignited after RHAM wrestling head coach Ryan Fitch talked with him following a football practice in the fall of his sophomore year.  

The chat with Fitch would pay big dividends as he rejoined the wrestling team the winter of his sophomore year where he would finish fourth overall in Class M and sixth overall at the State Open in 2022. 

Fournier says he feels a “night and day” between now and when he first stepped back onto the mats as a second-year high school wrestler. 

“It’s the small thing that takes you from being good to great at different levels,” added Fournier, who pointed to his improved speed and balance while wrestling. “It doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re on the mat competing those can make a difference.” 

Fournier's excellence isn't restricted to the mat. He is also actively involved in his community serving as a volunteer of his local Hebron Fire Department and as BSA Scout where he has a full calendar as he is currently on the precipice of obtaining his Eagle Scout Rank and is currently serving as Troop 28's current Senior Patrol Leader.  

Along with his outside interests, Fournier also wants to wrestle at the next level and has been in active discussions with local and regional college wrestling programs, exploring opportunities that would cater to both his academic interests in Criminal Justice studies and his refined wrestling talent. Though many institutions expressed interest, Fournier is still currently evaluating his options where he will pursue his future goals and is also considering careers in ROTC and military leadership training.  
But for now, Fournier is focused on competing in the Super 32 Challenge that will take place October 21-22 in Greensboro, North Carolina.

​The national tournament will be excellent preparation for the upcoming high school wrestling season as he seeks to repeat as Class M champion and hopes to add a State Open title to his growing list of accomplishments this winter. He also aims to help RHAM bring home their first state team title since 2002 after the Raptors finished as the runner-up last winter, losing to Avon by a ½ point on a controversial call.