Iowa men’s wrestling All-American heavyweight Ben Kueter is back and bigger

IOWA CITY – Ben Kueter has rarely been idle.

He built a high school career of constant competition and training, moving seamlessly from football to wrestling to baseball and balancing high-level events within the same week. Kueter continued that at Iowa, participating in football and wrestling.

So, you can imagine his frustration with the slow process, rehabilitating from offseason arthroscopic hip surgery.

“I was off the mat for probably a good two to three months,” said Kueter, who didn’t play football this season due to the procedure and recovery. “So, I wasn't doing anything (and) that was tough at first, but it definitely got better as time went on.”

Kueter’s progress has him ready for No. 3 Iowa’s home opener against Bellarmine Thursday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, starting at 6 p.m.. The returning All-American was listed in the probable lineups released Tuesday and he’ll be raring to go, if Hawkeyes Coach Tom Brands calls on him.

“For me, it's like, mentally, I'm always ready,” fifth-ranked Kueter said. “I'd rather be ready, and then they tell me I'm not going rather, than not being ready and they tell me I am going, right? So, I think that's the big thing for me.”

Kueter was dedicated to overcoming what he avoided most of his career. He recalled what it was like when he finally got back on the mat. His lungs burned and he felt tired. The workouts were 10 minutes, then 15 and increased to 20.

“I'd say that it got better as it went on, but it was definitely rough at first,” Kueter said. “Coach Brands would put me through a workout and I feel like I would kill the workout.

“I'd be like, ‘Hey, I can do more if you want me to. I'm good. I feel good. I can do more if you want me to.’ I think that was a hard part when he would be like, ‘You're good today’ when I wanted to do more.”

  Buy Photo

Kueter is healthier and heftier. He was able to add mass during the offseason, bulking up to about 245 pounds. Kueter said he increased his protein intake, noting he has a favorite 1,000-calorie shake that he drinks before weight training.

“It is just being steady,” Kueter said. “It's hard because there's days where your weight looks really good and then there's days where it doesn't. You’ve got to be okay with those days and just keep going. You can't get down on yourself. It’s not going to be perfect every day.

“Just keep eating. It’s simple as that, really.”

The added size helps with confidence against bigger heavyweights, who can push the scale at 285. He was undersized a year ago but that isn’t an issue now. Kueter will have a better chance of controlling the center of the mat better and remain athletic and technical.

“I think I knew that and that was a big part of why I wasn't confident in myself,” Kueter said. “And that's not a problem this year, so I would say that was probably the biggest thing when it came to confidence last year compared to this year.”

Kueter, an undefeated four-time state champion and Junior World freestyle champion at Iowa City High, still had a strong freshman campaign. He posted a 21-9 record at heavyweight, placing third at the Big Ten Championships and earning All-American status with an eighth-place finish at the national tournament.

The goal is to expand and enhance his first full season.

“I'd say just getting back to how I was in high school,” Kueter said. “Just going out, looking to dominate and not just like get past this match or kind of squeak this one out, I guess you could say.

“I think for me in high school what made me good is I wasn't worried about winning or losing. I was just worried about how bad I was going to beat the guy. So, I think getting back to that mentality and just working on attacking and focusing on attacking, I think that's the most important thing.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com