“Ben Smith was King of the Ring in his junior season, putting the shot nearly 69 feet to lead the nation among prep boys in that event this spring. He finished 2023 with four of the top six shot put efforts of the year. Ben’s excellence carried over to the discus as well, where he notched the No. 2 mark nationally this season. It’s rare to have a weights specialist truly excel at the highest levels in both events.”

Rich Gonzalez

editor of PrepCalTrack.com

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior won the shot put and finished second in the discus throw at Nike Outdoor Nationals this past season, earning All-American honors in both events. Smith’s winning shot put throw of 68 feet, 4 inches landed just shy of his personal-best throw of 68-10.5 in May, which ranked No. 1 nationally among prep competitors in 2023. Smith’s second-place discus effort at nationals soared 210-4 to set a state record and ranked No. 2 nationally this spring. He won the shot put and took second in the discus at the Division 1 state meet, leading the Polar Bears to a fourth-place finish as a team.

Academic Achievement

Smith has maintained a 3.91 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his senior year of high school this fall.

Exemplary Character

A member of the Hortonville High Leadership Council, Smith has volunteered locally at the Catfish Extravaganza in association with the Greenville Lions Club. He has also donated his time installing and repairing lakeside docks for senior citizens in his community.