South Dakota State University commit Bennet Berge wants one more team state title with Kasson-Mantorville
MANTORVILLE, Minn. (BVM) – Bennett Berge has the chance to join a very exclusive club by the end of his final wrestling season at Kasson-Mantorville High School this year.
The 182-pound senior has the chance to be only the sixth wrestler ever in the state of Minnesota to win five state titles. It is an impressive feat to reach for one of the top wrestlers in the country, but Berge is more focused on how his team fares at the state tournament this year.
“I take more pride in the team one (state championship),” Berge said.
For Berge, it’s a chance to give back to a community that loves to support its wrestling team and give the program he has been a part of for six years another championship to remember. Berge was a part of the last two state championship teams that came from Kasson-Mantorville, but those were when he was in seventh and eighth grade.
“I haven’t gotten that feeling for four years now. It’s something that I want to do before I graduate,” Berge said. “It’s my last year to do it.”
He also knows that there is a good chance that if he focuses on a team win for the Komets, he will likely be at the top of a podium come tournament time.
“I think if the team gets it done, I think I’ll be in the right spot to get it done on my end,” Berge said.
Berge and the team are off to a good start this season and the chances of a state title run look good.
“Our team is looking very solid,” Berge said. “I think we’re in a good spot right now to be where we want to be at the end of the season… It’s possible to win it all this season.”
It would be a great way to end his high school career that started in seventh grade and helped Berge realize his potential.
Berge had always loved wrestling – both his older brothers wrestled – so he not only was introduced to it at a young age, but also got to learn from his brothers.
“I was kind of born into it,” Berge said.
Berge loved competing and as he got better and wrestled at higher levels, he continued to fall in love with the sport. However, it was during his eighth grade season that he began to realize he could wrestle beyond high school.
Berge had a rough start to the season and after one particular loss in a match he probably should have won, his coach pulled him aside. His coach told him to be coachable, figure it out and then you’ll start winning. Berge did just that and won his first state championship as an eighth grader.
“Once you win a state title as an eighth grader you’re like, ‘OK I got four years to be pretty dang good,’” Berge said.
From there he continued to improve and quickly become one of the best wrestlers in the Class of 2022. He currently ranks in the top-50 in the nation and top-10 at 182. Berge’s success obviously got the attention of colleges, but his recruitment was a little different due to COVID. It took longer than he would have liked, but he was finally able to go on visits and it started with South Dakota State University.
His older brother, Brady, had taken a job as an assistant coach for the Jackrabbits and when he got to Brookings, he enjoyed his time visiting the campus and community.
“It’s kind of a community like the community I have right now,” Berge said.
He told SDSU that he would go on the rest of his visits before making a decision but after the four–hour drive back to Mantorville, he knew that he didn’t have to go on another official visit. South Dakota State was where he wanted to be.
Berge announced his commitment during the summer and although he still has the high school season, he is excited about what the future holds for him in Brookings.
“I think these next couple of years they’ll (SDSU) be putting together a pretty good team to crack the top-10 and the top-5,” Berge said.
From one team championship he is hoping to have to end his high school career, Berge will immediately start working towards another team championship with the Jackrabbits.
