IOWA WRESTLING

Wrestling: Ben Provisor, a two-time Olympian in Greco-Roman, signs to wrestle at Grand View

Cody Goodwin
Des Moines Register

The Grand View wrestling program made a huge recruiting splash on Thursday.

Like, a massive splash.

Ben Provisor, a two-time Olympian, announced Thursday that he plans to join the Vikings and wrestle for head coach Nick Mitchell and his staff. Provisor will have four years of eligibility remaining at the start of the 2021-22 season.

"I've signed my letter of intent to attend (Grand View) and wrestle," Provisor wrote in an Instagram post, announcing his decision. "I've always known I wanted to go back to school but never thought I would find such a perfect fit.

"(Grand View coach Nick Mitchell) said he had some big news, here it is."

By signing with and enrolling at Grand View, Provisor has a strong case as perhaps the most credentialed college wrestler, regardless of division.

Provisor, who will turn 31 in June, made both the 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Teams in Greco-Roman. He's won the U.S. Open three times, in 2011, 2013 and 2018; won a silver medal at the 2011 Pan American Games; and won gold in 2017 and bronze in 2018 at the Pan-American Championships. 

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In recent years, Provisor, a Stevens Point, Wisconsin, native, has spent time wrestling for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and the New York Athletic Club. Though he specialized in Greco, Provisor said he is ready to transition back to folkstyle.

"I've been wrestling more folkstyle in the last four years in (Pennsylvania) than I have in my whole life so it's time to take advantage of my knowledge I've learned," he wrote. "Everyone who has been there for me in PA, thank you. I couldn't have done this without you and I'm grateful I get the opportunity to learn from another great program.

"Thank you for the opportunity. I will never let you guys down."

Ben Provisor, right, is a two-time Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling. On Thursday, he announced that he had signed to wrestle at Grand View.

Provisor has some history in folkstyle wrestling. He was a three-time Wisconsin state medalist from 2006-09. He also won freestyle gold at the 2018 Pan-American Championships in Peru. He projects at 184/197 for Grand View.

The Vikings are one of the most dominant wrestling programs in the country, having won nine NAIA national team titles in a row before finishing second to Life University this past season. Grand View has won 103 duals in a row dating to the 2013 season, college wrestling's all-time record regardless of division.

The Vikings finished the 2021 NAIA national championships with 10 All-Americans, including Ben Lee, who took third at 184 pounds, and Casey Randles, who took third at 174 pounds. 

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.