Photo by: Zachary Lucy
NDSU Wrestling’s Obenson Blanc to be Inducted into Florida Wrestling Hall of Fame Saturday
4/24/2026 1:15:00 PM | Wrestling
COCOA BEACH, Fla. – North Dakota State wrestling head coach Obenson Blanc will be inducted into the Florida Wrestling Hall of Fame on Saturday, announced the organization.
A Florida State Champion for Lely High School as a senior, Blanc then went on to claim the NHSCA National Championship later that season. He then wrestled at Lock Haven University and would go on to be an All-American in 2007 while at LHU. He then moved on to Oklahoma State to train under John Smith for his final year and pursuit of his freestyle career.
Following a collegiate career that included four national championship appearances and 118 wins, Blanc qualified for five U.S. National teams in his career, made two U.S. World teams, and placed second on three occasions at the Pan-American Championships and once at the World Cup.
After wrapping up his competitive career, Blanc coached for five seasons at North Carolina State as an assistant before joining the Bison program under Roger Kish in June of 2019. Blanc then took over for Kish in 2024 and has led a resurgence in the Bison wrestling room that saw five national qualifiers this season. He has coached three All-Americans in his time at NDSU, as well as three Big 12 Champions.
Blanc, who just finished his third season as the head coach of the NDSU wrestling program, will be one of eight inductees recognized on Saturday in the fourth hall of fame class after it was instituted in 2023. The 2026 Florida Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Banquet held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando Celebration in Kissimmee, Florida.
A Florida State Champion for Lely High School as a senior, Blanc then went on to claim the NHSCA National Championship later that season. He then wrestled at Lock Haven University and would go on to be an All-American in 2007 while at LHU. He then moved on to Oklahoma State to train under John Smith for his final year and pursuit of his freestyle career.
Following a collegiate career that included four national championship appearances and 118 wins, Blanc qualified for five U.S. National teams in his career, made two U.S. World teams, and placed second on three occasions at the Pan-American Championships and once at the World Cup.
After wrapping up his competitive career, Blanc coached for five seasons at North Carolina State as an assistant before joining the Bison program under Roger Kish in June of 2019. Blanc then took over for Kish in 2024 and has led a resurgence in the Bison wrestling room that saw five national qualifiers this season. He has coached three All-Americans in his time at NDSU, as well as three Big 12 Champions.
Blanc, who just finished his third season as the head coach of the NDSU wrestling program, will be one of eight inductees recognized on Saturday in the fourth hall of fame class after it was instituted in 2023. The 2026 Florida Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Banquet held at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Orlando Celebration in Kissimmee, Florida.
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