Ryan Gebhardt probably never dreamt his fall semester of college would be paid for by playing a rock instrumental on a casino stage while wielding a fake plastic guitar.

On June 7, the 19-year-old Waltham, Minn. native won $10,000 cash and bragging rights for nailing Eric Johnson’s song “Cliffs of Dover” at the “Rock the Lake” Guitar Hero II Tournament at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel.

In a double elimination round against Joseph Viseth, 21, of Elk River, Minn., the Iowa State University student and Hayfield graduate paid for his next semester of college.

“With that many people, there would be a lot of luck to win,” said Gebhardt, the son of Mike and Barb Gebhardt of Waltham.

He joined this latest interactive video game craze after he and a couple friends decided to try it out. He figured any of the prizes would be worth the trip if he played in the tournament.

“I was home for the summer and my brother actually lives in the Cities,” Gebhardt said, who is farming this summer with his dad and brother. “I went with a friend from school, because he tried in the tournament, too.

“That’ll pay off about an semester of college,” he said.

More than 700 Guitar Hero fans competed in the tournament, with more than $20,000 in cash and prizes awarded.

According to Mystic Lake Casino, the “Rock the Lake” tournament was the largest in Minnesota, and drew competitors from across the state and even as far as Shanghai, China.

Gebhardt said he isn’t exactly a Guitar Hero fanatic; he just has a knack for the game.

“I’d play occasionally,” said Gebhardt, who had planned to attend the Guitar Hero III Championship Tournament, held Saturday at the Mall of America.

The Guitar Hero series was first sold in 2005, and since has expanded into its third version, available on multiple game consoles and with many guitar controllers available.

The phenomenon has even reached southern Minnesota, with tournaments held at the Oak Park Mall in Austin and Woody’s in Rose Creek.

A Rochester teen holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for most points scored on one song in Guitar Hero III.

Chris Chike, 16, hit 97 percent of the notes on British metal band DragonForce’s song, “Through the Fire and Flames” during a Guinness-sponsored event March 11.

To see Gebhardt’s performance, go to www.youtube.com and search “Ryan Gebhardt.”