Iowa Metropolis Excessive’s Ben Kueter has his hand raised after successful his third state wrestling championship on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, at Wells Fargo Enviornment in Des Moines. (Geoff Stellfox/The Gazette)
IOWA CITY — Ben Kueter contemplated how he wished his highschool wrestling profession to look.
The Iowa Metropolis Excessive senior had a lot to think about — the wins, the data, the titles and domination. An exhilarating type and his influence on the aspiring Ben Kueters of the world.
“The largest factor is as an entertainer, you might say, and simply being enjoyable to observe,” Kueter stated. “Extra importantly, being function mannequin for future wrestlers.
“I take pleasure in speaking to youngsters at tournaments. I’ll take footage at tournaments and signal stuff. I’d undoubtedly say being an enormous function mannequin for these youngsters, serving to them and ensuring they take pleasure in it. In the event that they work exhausting, they’ll see what it will probably result in.”
Kueter has yet one more alternative to emblazon his picture on highschool wrestling followers of all ages when he competes within the Class 3A state wrestling event, beginning Wednesday at Wells Fargo Enviornment in Des Moines. He has a chance to hitch the state’s most elite group because the thirty second four-time state champion and seventh to finish an undefeated highschool profession.
“The largest factor is do what I at all times do and take it one match at a time,” Kueter stated. “I’m not going to lie and say I’m not serious about it. It’s my final event. I’ve been serious about it rather a lot.”
Many eyes will likely be on him when he takes the mat every spherical. Youth wrestlers will likely be mounted on every takedown or victory, like how he watched Lisbon’s Carter Happel win 4 titles from 2013-16. They might even attempt to sidle up close to him for a photograph or attain out a marker to autograph a shirt, hat or program. That accessibility was instilled by his mother and pop, Tina and Scott.
“My mother and father have raised me to be individual,” Kueter stated. “So, when a child asks for an image or a child needs to speak, I’m going to take a seat down and discuss with him or take an image with him.
“It’s one thing individual would do. I actually have come to take pleasure in that.”
Kueter’s fun-loving angle permits him to narrate nicely with youthful youngsters. Simply have a look at the image tweeted by his membership coach, T.J. Sebolt, a former four-time state champion at Centerville who runs Sebolt Wrestling Academy. The hulk-like Kueter is smiling and giving a thumbs-up whereas holding a membership coach’s son the wrong way up by his toes with the opposite. The tweet stated, “Lane about had him proper earlier than this…”
He has tried to affect by means of his personal success.
“I’ve observed through the years legacy is vital to him,” Metropolis Excessive Coach Cory Connell stated. “The final couple of weeks I introduced the wrestling group to talk at elementary faculties and it was enjoyable to see him discuss to these youngsters about what has helped him through the years.”
Profession of dominance
From the time he stepped within the Metropolis Excessive lineup, Kueter has tortured opponents. He enters state with a 107-0 profession report, together with a 35-0 mark this season. He has dominated most of his foes, incomes 101 bonus-point victories for a 94.4-percent price.
Solely 11 of these matches have gone a full six minutes, tallying a mixed 88 pins and technical falls. He has had simply six matches finish in choice and 4 of these have come on the state event. Three had been in his freshman season, together with a 4-3 160-pound finals win in opposition to Linn-Mar’s Tate Naaktgeboren, who’s making an attempt to achieve his fourth ultimate and win his third title this 12 months.
Kueter beat Waverly-Shell Rock’s Jake Walker, 5-0, for the 195 title as a sophomore. It was his final choice in opposition to an Iowa foe, capping an 11-0 sophomore season severely shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight of these wins had been by pin.
Final season, Kueter went 37-0 with 20 pins, 10 technical falls, a serious and 5 forfeits. He received the 220-pound title, posting two technical falls and two pins at state.
The place does the prospect of turning into a four-time state champion rank amongst his accomplishments, which incorporates nationwide and worldwide success?
“I undoubtedly say it’s up there with successful a World title,” Kueter stated. “Profitable a World title is nice and that was superior, however there wasn’t close to as many individuals there as there could be on the Iowa highschool state event, particularly with it being at residence. With the ability to compete in entrance of these individuals, that’s one factor I’d say is cooler than a World title. It’s undoubtedly proper up there.”
Connell first met Kueter when he was in third grade. He stated he at all times knew Kueter would achieve success, however didn’t think about any such resume.
“I might say the second I knew he was going to be actually particular was when he was in eighth grade and we had some good seniors on the group at his weight,” Connell stated. “The primary time I noticed him wrestle them and he received a tech fall in opposition to them in a match … that was spectacular.”
Working with the perfect
Kueter is a multiple-sport phenom who has introduced his plans to wrestle and play soccer on the College of Iowa. Baseball helped him type a relationship with among the best ever.
Kueter has been a member of the Little Hawks’ baseball group and performed with Gable Mitchell, the grandson of Waterloo West, Iowa State and Iowa legend Dan Gable. They had been launched and hit it off.
When the Kueters moved to Iowa Metropolis, they lived in a rental property close to Gable. Kueter would make his manner over for some coaching.
“There was whereas the place I’d go over there and get exercises in,” Kueter stated. “So, we developed relationship by means of that.”
In the course of the pandemic-interrupted season, Metropolis Excessive was shut down till January. The Little Hawks weren’t even in a position to apply. Kueter would go to Gable’s residence to coach a pair occasions per week.
“The cool factor about that’s it could be one thing completely different daily,” Kueter stated. “You actually had no concept what you had been in for. That was one thing cool to consider.”
The 2 had been pictured collectively in August earlier than Kueter left for the 2022 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. The 1972 Olympic gold medalist posed with the eventual 213-pound U20 World champion, who went 7-0 and pinned an opponent from Turkey within the ultimate.
“It’s cool to take a seat again and notice how fortunate and lucky I’m to have the ability to have a relationship with him,” stated Kueter, realizing their households have watched the NCAA tournaments collectively. “At first, that’s the way you have a look at it, however when you get to know him it’s similar to one other relationship. He’s simply one other individual.”
Becoming a member of Gable and different legends
A fourth state title would additionally imply an unblemished profession. Gable was the primary to complete his highschool profession undefeated, successful three titles from 1964-66 with a 64-0 mark. Jeff Kerber went 126-0 for Emmetsburg from 1976-79. Present Bettendorf Coach Dan Knight went 128-0 for Clinton.
Maquoketa’s Eric Juergens was 144-0 from 1993-86 and the feat hasn’t been accomplished since Des Moines Roosevelt’s John Meeks went 168-0 from 2009-12.
Metropolis Excessive is already represented on the checklist by Jeff McGinness, who went 172-0 from 1990-93.
“It’s not one thing I take into consideration rather a lot. I simply exit and wrestle,” Kueter stated. “No matter occurs occurs. If I’m undefeated, nice. If I’m not, the solar comes up the following day. It will undoubtedly be cool to be part of that.”
⧉ Associated article: Iowa highschool boys’ state wrestling 2023: Class-by-class breakdown, predictions
Connell was a Metropolis Excessive state champion. He grew up “idolizing” McGinness. Kueter requested how he stacked as much as Connell’s hero.
“I instructed him I can’t think about you within the G.O.A.T. (Best Of All Time) dialogue when you have not even certified for a World Championship,” Connell stated. “I instructed him to be the G.O.A.T. you must do G.O.A.T. issues. Since he has received his World championship it’s exhausting to not think about him the G.O.A.T.”
Many contributors to success
Along with his coaches, there have been many teammates and members of the family who’ve pushed him to elite ranges.
He has benefited from championship exercise companions. Present Hawkeye Kolby Franklin was within the Metropolis Excessive room final 12 months. This 12 months, nationally-ranked two-time prep nationwide champion Gabe Arnold transferred to Metropolis Excessive from Wyoming Seminary Prep in Kingston, Pa.
“It’s nice and so they’re each like-minded individuals,” Kueter stated. “We’ve among the identical targets. All of us wish to win nationwide titles and Olympic titles, so it’s good to have anyone on the identical airplane as you. It may well get fairly lonely having to do it by your self, however in case you have a pair different guys doing it with you, it makes it rather a lot simpler.”
The need to push himself in apply and embrace challenges prevented any complacency. He possesses a drive to enhance, which allowed him to develop when opponents weren’t in a position to compete.
“He’s a particular child,” Connell stated. “He’s by no means glad. He’s at all times in search of methods to get higher. He has additionally accomplished job of surrounding himself with companions, coaches and associates to push him additional.”
None take the place of Tina and Scott. His mother and father realized his potential and saved him targeted to be his finest. Kueter recalled how they loaded up the household automobile for a greater than two-hour drive for apply with Sebolt after which would sit by means of a two- to three-hour apply.
“From a younger age, realizing I’ve to work exhausting with a view to be good at this sport and that’s one thing they instilled in me,” Kueter stated. “As a child, there’s days you don’t wish to go to apply otherwise you simply wish to sit at residence and play video games. It was, ‘Nope. You’re going to apply.’ On the time, I used to be pissed off with that however wanting again I’m tremendous grateful they did that and pushed me.
“I completed what I completed due to them.”
Saturday night time
Kueter has skilled 4 wrestlers seize a fourth title and the customary standing ovation from the state’s appreciative followers throughout his highschool profession. Regardless that his sights are set on his first match in opposition to the winner of Linn-Mar’s Griffin Schultz and Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s Asher Smith, he has envisioned that Saturday night time second many occasions.
“I really feel like I do much more visualization than most of my opponents,” Kueter stated. “For me, personally, I’ve already wrestled that finals match 100 occasions and with the ability to see that. It’s one thing I’m wanting ahead to, however I’ve to get the primary match out of the way in which on Wednesday and no matter is after that.
“It’s one thing I take into consideration and film rather a lot.”
Feedback: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com
