Ben Kueter Goes All In on Wrestling

PHOTO CREDIT: BRIAN RAY/HAWKEYESPORTS.COM After competing in two sports as a freshman, Iowa heavyweight Ben Kueter has channeled his focus to wrestling since last June.

Ben Kueter had no idea what to expect. Living next door to former Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable for two years, Kueter made frequent trips to the Olympic gold medalist’s house for demanding and unpredictable workouts. From hill sprints and resistance bike intervals to wrestling drills, those experiences helped Kueter learn to embrace uncertainty.

“When you’re playing football or you’re wrestling, nothing’s ever planned out,” says Kueter, who began training with Gable in eighth grade. “You have an idea of what you’re going to do, but other than that, it’s always up in the air with what happens and how you react. Those workouts helped me with dealing with the situation and reacting in a positive way no matter what.”

After juggling football and wrestling in his first year at Iowa, Kueter has fully dedicated himself to the mat since June. The redshirt freshman claimed second at the U20 World Championships this past summer and aspires to become an NCAA individual and team champion this spring. Says Kueter: “Being here for a full season shows me how much more I need to put into [wrestling] to get the things I want out of it.”

PHOTO CREDIT: JAMES CMELO/HAWKEYESPORTS.COM Ben Kueter claimed an individual title earlier this season in the Soldier Salute at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

Mind Over Mass

Bulking up to near his target weight of 240 pounds, Kueter feels physically ready to compete with the best heavyweight wrestlers. And going up against 310- to 320-pound linemen on the gridiron last year makes any weight disadvantage he faces on the mat much more manageable. The greater challenge is mental.

“The biggest thing is keeping the same mindset each match, whether I’m wrestling [two-time NCAA champion] Gable Steveson or somebody who’s not even ranked,” says Kueter. “It’s ‘no, I’m wrestling the best wrestler in the world every time I step out on the mat.’ And that will make my wrestling better.”

Mindful Method

Kueter views every match as a learning opportunity. The Iowa City native dissects each one with head coach Tom Brands (92BS), finding things he could improve and then applying it in practice. Kueter also emulates the leadership qualities of junior Drake Ayala in and out of practice. When the team runs, Kueter strives to stay up front with the reigning NCAA runner-up. “Drake lives a great life off the mat as well as in the practice room,” says Kueter. “To be successful in the college wrestling scene, you have to do those things off the mat that are hard to do. He goes to bed on time, wakes up early, he’s eating and drinking the right things. He has good relationships with his friends and family. It might not seem like a lot, but if it’s all in good terms, it can help your wrestling a lot.”

Whenever Kueter feels as though he’s not doing enough, he’ll drive to Goschke Family Wrestling Training Center to lift weights or do a resistance band workout before recovering in the hot tub or cold tub to get his body and mind right. “It’s kind of easy to do that when you’re in a wrestling room,” says the sport and recreation management major. “Just not focus on anything else but wrestling and getting better at it.”

Kueter will ultimately measure his success by his development. “I need to grow throughout the entire season, and if I don’t do that and don’t see that in my wrestling, I’d be very disappointed with myself,” he says. “It doesn’t even matter what the results are, the results will take care of themselves.”