Ben Kueter of Iowa City High is The Gazette’s 2023 Male Athlete of the Year

STAFF Ben Kueter reflected on his time at Iowa City High and arrived at one conclusion. He wouldn’t change a thing. Not even the hours of training that meant going straight from one workout to another, the hectic schedules that saw him travel the country and the world only to return as soon as possible to his current season for the Little Hawks or the physical or social sacrifices to accomplish his goals. “It was definitely all worth it,” Kueter said. “Looking back, I think it really prepared me for college. I’m playing two sports and juggling a pretty busy schedule right now, as it is. “Last week, we had a lot of football stuff going on, so I wasn’t able to make my wrestling workouts but this week we’re off for football so I will be in the wrestling room all week. I think the biggest part of that was always staying hungry in every sport I was doing,” Why would Kueter change anything? He produced a high school career that will rival Paul Bunyan folklore. Kueter thrived on fall Friday nights, stalking opponents from sideline to sideline. He dominated on the wrestling mat, destroying state title contenders in a blink of an eye or without breaking a sweat. Kueter also earned a medal at the hallowed Drake Relays in the spring and started for a state semifinalist baseball team. “I think it was his attention to everything that goes into being a special athlete and not just the skill, nutrition and mindset,” City High football coach Mitch Moore said. “It was an undeniable focus on all those things. “If you really want to be the most special athlete in Iowa or do all those things, it encompasses so many factors. He knew that at such an early age.” Don't miss weekly prep sports roundups Prep Sports Newsletter Signup Delivered to your inbox weekly Rankings, highlights and commentary Your email address Kueter was voted The Gazette’s 2023 Male Athlete of the Year. He becomes the third City High athlete to receive the honor that was first presented in 1983, joining Calvin Davis (2002) and Tim Dwight (1994). “There is no telling how much he has impacted City High,” Little Hawks wrestling coach Cory Connell said. “I don’t think we will see the full impact for another decade. I know how much I was impacted by (former City High four-time state champion, NCAA and World titlist) Jeff McGinness and Ben has done even more when you add in football and baseball. “I know how he has impacted myself, my family, his teammates, classmates and future Little Hawks.” A competitor like no other Kueter’s competitive nature and drive to be his best has been unparalleled by his peers. Connell had multiple anecdotes that put Kueter’s attitude and approach in perspective. The first came hours after Kueter beat Dubuque Hempstead’s JoJo Lewis by technical fall in the 220-pound final, becoming the 32nd four-time state champion and seventh wrestler in Iowa to complete an unbeaten career. Connell received a late-night message. “At midnight, he goes into the weight room and is lifting,” Connell said. “He takes a picture and texts me to say time for another lift. “Most people would be celebrating, thinking it’s done but he’s on to the next thing. He wants to get stronger and better. He’s always looking forward, trying to get another edge.” Connell also recalled the time Kueter had playoff football and his senior wrestling season approaching and still reached out to City High’s cross country coach about competing in the team’s state qualifier. Kueter was turned away. “I do a lot of running for wrestling,” Kueter said. “It helps with my conditioning. There would be times where I would run to football practice and run for football. So, why not?” Kueter graduated early, completing the requirements shortly after state wrestling. He participated in commencement at Xtream Arena in the spring. Connell saw Kueter staring at his phone, standing alone with 400 to 500 people milling around before the ceremony started. He wasn’t distracted by TikTok, Snapchat or another app. Kueter was dissecting his World Championship victory from 2022. “I always try to find ways to get better,” Kueter said. “Even then, I have my small circle and they weren’t there, so the next best thing was to watch wrestling.” Dominance on the mat Wrestling will be the hallmark of his prep career. Kueter dominated foes from the moment he stepped on the mat as a freshman. He won Class 3A titles at 160 and 195 with his last two at 220. Kueter posted a 111-0 record, collecting 75 pins and posting bonus-point victories in all but six of them. Joining the list of four-time champions and the group of unbeaten wrestlers ranks among his favorite memories, including world and national titles. “It fits in with my biggest accomplishments,” Kueter said. “There is nothing like the Iowa high school state tournament. It’s one of the greatest events in the state throughout the year. It’s consistently been like that, so being able to compete in front of all those people and put on a show, I’m super grateful for that.” Competition and internal ambition pushed him. So did humility. He never became complacent because he never let himself think he had reached his potential. Once a goal was achieved, it was time to reset and continue to work. Never settled and never satisfied. “He is one of the humblest people I have ever known,” Connell said. “He knows his goals are beyond where they were. He’s always looking to get better. “He’s very down to earth. He’s very hard-working.” Dynamo on defense Kueter served as a defensive leader since stepping into the football lineup as a sophomore. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker demonstrated quickness to the ball while covering the width of the field. He had the rare ability to stop runs to the outside and being able to stuff plays between the tackles. Kueter also lived on the opponent’s side of the ball, tallying 236 tackles with 69.5 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks. “When Ben grabs you, it’s a lock that very few people escape,” Moore said. “It’s one of those things of Ben that you can’t objectively measure it. He has strength and leverage few have had. “I’ve never seen a guy with that length and speed from sideline to sideline who could plug the hole like he could. I’ve just never seen it.” Moore noted that Kueter’s presence drew attention. His energetic style of play and nose for the football appealed to fans, who followed him instead of the ball. Moore’s late father was one of those mesmerized by Kueter. “I thought that was such a profound statement,” Moore said. “I don’t think my dad was the only one that thought that. You come into Bates Field and you went to ‘Where’s Ben Kueter?’” The contributions were on offense as well. Kueter amassed almost 1,300 yards from scrimmage while passing, rushing and receiving for 23 touchdowns. He also returned a kickoff for a TD. Kueter hauled in a 20-yard TD pass with a little more than a minute left to upset West Des Moines Dowling in 2021. “In the biggest moments, the kid always found a way to strike gold,” Moore said. “Always. Still does it.” City High reached the Class 5A state semifinals at the UNI-Dome in 2021. Kueter considers that one of his most memorable sports moments. They endured losing seasons and flipped the program around under Moore. “To come together as a team, it was a really cool experience,” Kueter said. “It was great. My favorite part of that year was the amount of talent we had on that team. I wasn’t the only one making plays. One of my friends, John Klosterman, is at Iowa State playing football. We had kids like Gable Mitchell, who is playing baseball at Iowa and another good athlete. The same with my little brother (Sam). He was 190 pounds, playing right tackle for us.” Balancing act Kueter’s achievements extended well beyond local tournaments or state championships. His ability yielded opportunities unattainable to most. Those chances to compete at the national or world level briefly pulled him away from varsity seasons, but he would rejoin the teams without skipping a beat. During early-season football practice his senior season, Kueter was training to compete in the United World Wrestling Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. He captured the 213-pound gold medal, capping a 4-0 performance with a pin over a Turkish opponent in the finals. Kueter came back a few days before the season-opener against Iowa City Liberty, logging 12 tackles with five solo and three for a loss. “For the kid, you were just so thrilled and excited for what he brought to himself, his family and the community,” Moore said. “It was nothing but a privilege to be around him and have that excitement.” Kueter also squeezed an All-America freestyle performance in between late regular-season and postseason baseball games his junior season. “Not at all,” City High baseball coach Brian Mitchell said if he’s witnessed anything like it. “Our kids are asked to do a lot. Ben was asked to do a lot and he always handled it. I have not seen anything close to that. No doubt about it.” Football caused an interruption in his senior wrestling campaign. He was invited and played in the under Armor All-American Game in Florida at the beginning of January. Kueter was playing on national television at the start of the week, missed a dual due to numerous flight delays but returned to pin Ankeny Centennial’s ninth-ranked Will Hinrichs in 32 seconds to win Ames’ Jack Mendenhall tournament that Saturday. “He is so elite at his time management,” Connell said. “He is so good about knowing what he has next and still being present where he’s at. “When he’s playing football, he’s getting better for wrestling. When he’s wrestling, he’s getting better for football. When he’s playing baseball, he’s competing and he loves to compete.” Learning from a legend At an early age, Kueter became friends with former City High athlete and current University of Iowa baseball player Gable Mitchell, who is the grandson of wrestling legend Dan Gable. The pair played youth baseball together before the Kueters first moved to Iowa City. They moved next to Gable. Kueter went over to Gable’s for an occasional workout. When COVID hit and winter sports were shut down, Kueter trained with Gable a couple times a week. It was only fitting he was named the 2023 Dan Gable Class 3A Mr. Wrestler of the Year and National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum’s Bob Steenlage Iowa High School Wrestler of the Year in June. Iowa City High's Ben Kueter acknowledges the audience as they applaud his fourth high school state championship after defeating Dubuque Hempstead's Joseph Lewis in a 220 pound championship bout of the Iowa High School Athletic Association 2023 Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Iowa City High's Ben Kueter acknowledges the audience as they applaud his fourth high school state championship at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette) Kueter overcame the awe of Gable, recognizing he was a normal person. They sparked a friendship that included attending the NCAA tournament together. “It’s cool to be coached by him,” Kueter said before his fourth state title. “It’s kind of surreal doing a workout and having him put you through something.” Support system Kueter’s trek has not been a solo one. Coaches, friends and family have helped propel him to an elite level. Most praise falls on his parents, Tina and Scott, who provided the opportunities for their son to be the best in the state, nation and around the globe. “They mean the world to me,” Kueter said. “They made me the person I am today, so I’m super grateful for the way they raised me. We have a great relationship, honestly. I see them as my best friends.” They often sat through workouts only to pack up the car and drive a couple hours to another practice. They instilled work ethic and commitment in their son. Kueter said there were times he was frustrated and wanted to sit at home, but they motivated him to go to practice. He has reaped the rewards. “I accomplished what I have because of them,” Kueter said. The adage, “It takes a village” applies to Kueter’s success. Coaches had to cooperate with one another to make sure Kueter could take advantage of the grand events he did. Moore, Connell and Mitchell collaborated for everyone’s benefit. “We worked hard together,” Mitchell said. “We worked hard to help him do that.” Connell isn’t sure that could have been accomplished at another school. City High coaches attempt to do that for all athletes. “We all have the kids’ best interests at heart,” Connell said. “I want Ben to be the best wrestler he can be. I also know he wants to be a great football player. I knew he wanted to play baseball. How can we work all this out to help this kid do what he wants to do.” A lasting legacy Despite all the titles, wins, records and honors, Kueter said he wants his legacy to be tied to something more than his results. He said he wants to be remembered for his influence on others, inspiring younger people to be their best. “The biggest thing is that I was a role model for younger kids,” Kueter said. “Just someone that worked hard that they could look up to and that stuff.” Look no further than his own home. Kueter understands he is blazing a path for his younger brothers, Sam and Colton. Sam will be a senior at City High and is receiving scholarship offers from NCAA Division I programs. Colton is in junior high. “It’s important to me,” Kueter said. “They can see I can do it and they live in the same house as me. They eat the same food as me, drink the same drinks as me, work out the same as me and it shows them, they can do it as well. “It’s also not something they have to do. They have their own paths, but if they do want to do stuff along with what I’m doing they can see where they’re at.” His efforts outside of athletics are just as important. Academics have been overshadowed by his generational athletic talent. Kueter is a member of the National Honor Society, owning a 3.8 grade-point average. He helped his Little Hawk wrestling team rank among the state’s best in GPA. “My parents emphasized that and it was important,” Kueter said. “You can’t do sports without that. The same goes with my coaches. Cory Connell was pretty persistent about that.” 2-sport athlete at Iowa Kueter has already started his next quest, attempting to play football and wrestle for Iowa. He already is getting acclimated to the rigors of doing both. Kueter has been splitting his time between offseason workouts for both sports. “I’m extremely determined,” Kueter said. “I don’t think doing it will be the hard part. I know I can do it. I’ve been doing it since I was a little kid. “Being in college, I have to up the level of (competition). Everyone is a state champ or All-American. You have to find different ways to elevate your game. I think the biggest thing for me will be mentally. It won’t set well with me to go to football and miss a wrestling workout and vice versa.” Moore, who has coached at the D-I level, said his physical attributes have him prepared for yearlong training. He echoed Kueter’s comment that the hardest part will be the mental aspect. “I know people have done it before but there is just such a heightened level,” Moore said. “It’s a lot different. I have zero doubt from a physical standpoint. He’s the best I’ve ever been around, but it’s the mental part.” Athletes have tried it recently, including Brody Brecht (baseball and football) and Connor McCaffery (baseball and basketball). Danan Hughes is among the Hawkeyes who started in two sports, playing baseball and football. Iowa wrestling has had a couple. Most notably, Mark Sindlinger and John Oostendorp. Sindlinger was a three-year starter on the offensive line from 1984-86. Sindlinger also won two Big Ten wrestling titles and was a two-time All-American, placing fourth and sixth. Oostendorp was an All-America heavyweight for the Hawkeyes and played football his final two years. “Probably the biggest challenge is that you’re competing at the highest level in college sports” Oostendorp said. “Your time is split and 99 percent of people don’t do that. “It’s possible. You just never have that offseason. You don’t have any down time.” Connell said Kueter likes to test his limits. He has a passion for sports and will do whatever it takes to succeed. Connell said Kueter knows what he has signed up for with the Hawkeyes. “He loves what he’s doing. He is always working hard and enjoys challenges,” Connell said. “He isn’t going into Iowa and playing football and wrestling is going to be easy. He’s expecting it to be hard and be a challenge. He’s not looking for it to be easy and he’s not afraid of doing hard things.” Mitchell, a former Hawkeye baseball standout, said he has witnessed Kueter go from practice to practice his entire life. He still conjured up the ability to give his all for each activity. Mitchell won’t doubt Kueter at the next level. “I’m sure he’ll have challenges,” Mitchell said. “I do know the kid lives a lifestyle to be successful. I would bet on him to succeed.” 2023 Gazette Male Athlete of the Year Ben Kueter of Iowa City High School. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette) 2023 Gazette Male Athlete of the Year Ben Kueter of Iowa City High School. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette) Ben Kueter Full name: Benjamin Allen Kueter School: Iowa City High Hometown: Amanas (moved to Iowa City in second grade) Age: 19 Family: Parents, Scott and Tina; brothers, Sam and Colton High school accomplishments: Won 213-pound men’s freestyle title at the United World Wrestling U20 World Championships in August 2022 at Sofia, Bulgaria. Became the 32nd four-time state wrestling champion and just the seventh to complete his career unbeaten. Posted a career record of 111-0, including 105 bonus-point victories for a 94.6-percent rate. He finished with 75 pins, 15 technical falls and five major decisions. Class 5A all-state linebacker as a junior and senior. Gazette area player of the year his final two seasons. He amassed 236 total tackles, 144 solo, 19.5 sacks, 69.5 tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries and an interception as a three-year starter. He added 1,297 total offensive yards. He scored 25 touchdowns, consisting of one passing, nine rushing, 13 receiving, one fumble return and a kick return. Played in the Under Armor All-American Bowl and was a National Butkus Award finalist. Starter in baseball as a sophomore and junior and a member of the Little Hawks’ 4A state qualifying teams in 2022 and 2020. He owned a career batting average of .306 with a .382 on-base percentage. Ran on the second-place distance medley relay at the 2021 Drake Relays. Future plans: Will play football and wrestle for University of Iowa