Utah Valley University's first NCAA Division I All-American will now add Utah Sports Hall of Famer to his illustrious list of accomplishments. Former Wolverine wrestler Ben Kjar is among five indivuals who will be inducted into the exclusive club at a Sept. 14 ceremony at the Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

Shanon Bahrke (skiing), Lee Benson (sportswriting), Blair Buswell (sculptor), and Cody Jensen (jockey) will join Kjar as the USHOF's newest members. Single-seat and table reservations are available by visiting UtahSportsHallofFame.org.

Kjar became the program's first NCAA All-American after taking fourth place at the NCAA Championships in 2011 at 125 pounds. He's UVU's career wins leader with 129 victories, including a program record 39 as a freshman in 2007-08.

He had post-collegiate success on the mat, winning both the freestyle and Greco U.S. Open in the master's B division in 2023. Later that year, he won gold in Greco-Roman at 62kg at the Veterans World Championships in Greece, while also earning a silver medal in freestyle.

His remarkable story also hit the silver screen with the film, "Standout: The Ben Kjar Story," which delivers a message of perseverance, belief, and hope. Kjar was born with Crouzon Syndrome, a rare, craniofacial disorder. He dealt with relentless bullying and a series of painful surgeries and turned to wrestling to prove himself. He manifested and became a three-time state champion at Viewmont High School before embarking on his NCAA career at UVU. Kjar and his wife, LaCol, are the parents of three children, including twins.