This will be the first installment of welcoming a new wrestler to the Iowa Wrestling program. We have a great group of incoming recruits and transfers at Iowa this year.
First up to welcome in for the Recruiting Class of 2023 is Ben Kueter of Iowa City, Iowa (City HS).
To say that Kueter did it all in high school is an understatement. Kueter has won nearly every state and national award possible this year.
Recently Kueter was named the 2023 USA TODAY HSSA National Boys Wrestler of the Year. He was named as The Gazette Male Athlete of the Year, Outstanding Wrestler in the country on the USA Wrestling Dream Team, the overall #1 recruit pound for pound by MatScouts, the Regional winner of the Dave Schultz Excellence Award, the Dan Gable Wrestler of the Year, and also a member of the National Honor Society.
What Kueter accomplished in his high school career at City High High School in Iowa City, Iowa is amazing. Four-time undefeated state champion in wrestling. All-American linebacker in football. Played in an All-Star game with the best football players in the country. Started on a District champion baseball team and ran in the Drake Relays.
Kueter won a World title at the 2022 U20 World Freestyle Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria at 97kg/213 lbs.
I mentioned over a year and a half ago that Kueter was the best overall athlete for an Iowa Wrestling recruit that I have ever seen. I have also been saying for quite some time that Ben Kueter is the best high school athlete to ever come out of Iowa. I do not see how anyone could argue those points.
It is rare for an athlete to commit to two sports. Kueter is committed to a career with Iowa Football and Iowa Wrestling. If anyone can do it, it is Ben Kueter.
Kueter is in fall practice at middle linebacker with the Iowa Football team preparing for the upcoming season. I believe the Iowa defense will be in the Top 10 nationally again this season. Even so, I believe we will see Kueter make an immediate impact this year in his true freshman season. I can just hear the announcers when #32 makes a big play that he was a World champion wrestler.
There is no doubt that Kueter will compete at Hwt for the Hawks. With that type of frame, he could fill out to 250 lbs. and still be lean and quick.
In all my years of following Iowa high school sports I have never seen anybody like Ben Kueter. There is no limit to what Kueter can do in both football and wrestling at Iowa and beyond.
What a great future Ben Kueter has in front of him. As a fan I am going to enjoy following Kueter’s career as an Iowa Hawkeye because we may never see anyone like this again.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
