University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

Ben Thornton is in his fourth season an assistant coach at UW-La Crosse in 2022-23.

UWL won its sixth straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship in 2021-22 as three wrestlers earned individual titles. The Eagles placed second at the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Upper Midwest Regional.  Five wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships, but the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic threat. 

Thornton was a two-time NCAA Division I qualifier at Purdue University (Ind.) at 133-pounds in 2018 and 2019. He is tied for 19th in school history in victories (91) at Purdue, earning four Academic All-Big Ten honors (2016-19). Thornton earned three All-Big Ten honors, placing seventh conference championships in his senior season while finishing eighth as a sophomore and junior. 

He was a three-time National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Academic selection (2017-19) for the Boilermakers and a two-time recipient of the Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar Award (2018-19). 

Thornton was a two-year team captain at Purdue (Ind.) and member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He earned four varsity letters for the Boilermakers and named the team's most dedicated wrestler in his freshman and senior seasons. 

A native of La Crosse, Thornton earned his bachelor's degree in movement and sport science from Purdue (Ind.) in 2019 while minoring in psychology. He is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at UWL. 

He was a two-time Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state champion at La Crosse Central High School, capturing the 106-pound title in 2012 and 120-pound crown in 2014. Thornton was also a two-time runner-up at the state meet, placing second at 103-pounds in 2011 and at 113-pounds in 2013. He finished with a 199-2 career record in high school, earning four letters. Thornton also earned three letters in baseball and football.