Iowa City High’s Ben Kueter named Dan Gable Class 3A Mr. Wrestler of the Year

BOONE — Ben Kueter added another honor to his storied high school wrestling career.

The Iowa City High senior was named IAwrestle’s Class 3A Dan Gable Mr. Wrestler of the Year Wednesday during an annual ceremony. He was joined by Greene County’s Kale Petersen (2A), Underwood’s Gable Porter (1A) and Dan Gable Ms. Wrestler of the Year Lilly Luft, of Charles City.

“The esteem of the Dan Gable Ms. and Mr. Wrestler Awards is reflective of the outstanding talent we have across the state,” IAwrestle founder and CEO Tony Hager said in a news release. “The selection process continues to be increasingly difficult, and all athletes selected for the top three are most certainly deserving. IAwrestle looks forward to continuing to cover these wrestlers far beyond high school wrestling.”

Kueter capped his Little Hawk career, becoming Iowa’s 32nd four-time state champion and the state’s seventh prep wrestler to complete an undefeated career. He went 39-0 this season, winning a second straight 220-pound state title.

Interestingly, Kueter joined Gable in the group of unbeaten Iowa high school wrestlers. He finished 111-0, including 105 bonus-point victories.

City High 182-pound champion Gabe Arnold and Waverly-Shell Rock’s Ryder Block were finalists for the award. Arnold, a two-time national prep champion at Wyoming Seminarian Prep (Pa.) before transferring to City High, went 41-0. Block (45-0) won the 138 crown for his third state title. All three have signed to wrestle for the University of Iowa.

Luft is one of the state’s top female competitors. She is ranked fifth nationally at 132. Luft, an Iowa signee, won the 130 title at the inaugural Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union in Coralville in Febraury.

Luft was a two-time Iowa Wrestling Coches and Officials Association girls’ state tournament champion and three-time medalist at the event. She finished her senior campaign with a 40-0 mark, giving her 125 career victories.

Underwood’s Molly Allen and Decorah’s Naomi Simon were also finalists for the award. Simon, who is ranked fifth nationally at 164, won the 170 pound title, posting a 32-0 mark improving her career mark to 82-0. Simon has won two IWCOA titles in addition to the IGHSAU championship. Allen won gold at 115 with a 31-0 mark. Allen is ranked No. 9 nationally at 117.

Petersen went 42-0 and won the 132 championship in 2A, earning a third state gold. He received the honor over Osage’s Nick Fox (170) and West Burlington-Notre Dame’s C.J. Walrath (182).

In 1A, Porter won the 132 title with a 47-1 mark. He also became a three-time champion. Porter was joined by Waterloo Columbus junior Max Magayna and Nashua-Plainfield’s Garrett Rinken. Magayna has a chance to become a four-time champion next season.