Gold medal or NFL? Ben Kueter from Iowa will go for both (2023)

IOWA CITY, Iowa —Bena Cutteraalmost every day he gets the same question from friends, family acquaintances and members of the media. Needless to say, it doesn't annoy him. Whether that motivates him is another story.

Kueter, who stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 225 pounds, is a four-star defenseman from Iowa City High who signed withIowaplay football. He also won the junior wrestling world title in 2022, being one of only six Americans to do so before graduating from high school. Kueter will also be fighting in Iowa.

In 2028, the Summer Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles. It's not hard to believe that Kueter could represent the United States and possibly win gold. This spring, it's also not far-fetched to think that Kueter could have been chosen by oneNFLClub.

Gold medal or NFL?

"I think if he was going to give you an answer today, he would have told both of you," said Iowa City High coach Mitch Moore.

"I was joking with (three-time NCAA champion) Spencer Lee," said Kueter, "and he said, 'You've got to win two national titles before you stay in football. When you win two national titles you can go play football and do whatever you want.

“It's exciting. But who knows in four or five years? Anything could happen".

Kueter's condition was a topic of conversation among Iowa City sports fans long before he joined the Hawkeyes. Before Kueter was offered a dual-sport scholarship, his name came up during an impromptu conversation at the grocery store between Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz and former Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable.

"I asked Dan Gable 2 maybe half a year ago if you could do both?" Ferentz said. "It was stupid. Because Dan looked at me and said, 'Why not?' He can do whatever he wants. So I guess until we know otherwise, we're going to work with that premise. My ultimate goal is just for him to be really happy and for everything to go his way."

Kueter could go almost anywhere if he gave up football or wrestling.Minnesotathey were the first school to offer him a football scholarship when he ran over 21 mph with the ball as a junior. This helped him earn a spot in the Under Armor All-America Game.

Seven Iowans have gone through high school undefeated: Dan Gable, Jeff Kerber, Dan Knight, Jeff McGinness, Eric Juergens, John Meeks, and now Ben Kueter.pic.twitter.com/bBOfgcgjJT

— Andy Hamilton (@Andy_Hamilton)February 19, 2023

As a wrestler, Kueter is second to none. He is one of seven wrestlers in Iowa history to end his high school career undefeated with four titles. He finished 111–0, with 105 games ending in fall or technical failure. This year he had a record of 39-0 with 34 pins, three technical falls and two falls.

Almost all Iowa football players play multiple sports. Kueter was also a high-profile baseball player and track and field athlete at Iowa City High. But recently only Kueter iBrody'ego Brechtachose two sports in Iowa. Brecht, a third-team All-American with a wide receiver, lasted two football seasons before returning to baseball full-time in the spring. But Brecht's baseball skills overshadowed his football skills. Kueter's trajectory is less clear, however.

"I really can't say I had any idea how Brody's case would go, how his path would go," Ferentz said. “It's probably the same with Ben. These are obviously two different sports, but Brody has abilities that are unusual in his sport. I'm not an expert on wrestling, but people who know about it think that (Kuter has) a huge advantage there too. I don't think any of us are in a hurry to make a decision. I don't think Ben does either. We'll take care of it day by day, week by week."

Iowa's football and wrestling programs have a solid working relationship. Gable has served as the honorary captain of the team at Iowa football games many times, with players filling the wrestling duo spots. All of Ferentz's sons wrestled at Iowa City High, including offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who regularly attends several sold-out wrestling matches in Iowa.

There is no tug of war about Kueter's services. From the beginning, wrestling coach Tom Brands and the football staff worked together to bring Kueter in a mutually beneficial manner.

"We're going to work with football and find out what's best for him," Brands said.

"You can probably imagine how the conversation went when we (Brands) initially said, 'Hey, how are we going to work this out?' football recruiting director Tyler Barnes said. "Brands just told us to do it."

Kueter wanted to finish school early and start training with the Iowa soccer team in January. But the football and wrestling staffs immediately rejected the idea.

"They tell me, 'No, you have to fight and win your fourth state title,'" said Kueter. "I was ready to end it. I was ready to go ahead and dip my toes into, I guess, the college scene and get ready for it. But they were adamant that I stay and finish high school."

Soccer player Kueter

Among the largest high schools in Iowa, Iowa City High boasts one of the most important football traditions. The Little Hawks have won seven state titles and won four in the past 30 seasons. However, district changes and recruiting trends saw the once-proud program collapse with four straight seasons with two wins.

Midway through his high school career, Kueter turned his focus to wrestling. Iowa City High then hired Moore and the program was revived. That was Kueter's way of thinking.

"When Coach Moore came along, I really started learning to play football," said Kueter. "Just two years I've been coached by a really good line coach - Todd McGhghy - and coach Moore, so it's exciting. I'm not even close to where I should be or where I could be."

On the field, Kueter was a tackler. In his last two seasons, he finished with 199 tackles, including 64 for turnovers and 18 1/2 sacks. He also totaled 665 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022 as a runner and receiver, and caught 24 passing yards for 369 yards and nine points in 2021. As a junior, Kueter helped lead Iowa City High to the state semifinals with 41 bouts for a loss. He was a two-time statewide defense attorney and set the tone for the show. The Little Hawks have had 10 wins this year - two more than the previous four seasons combined.

"I don't think you can really quantify the impact it had on our program," Moore said. “It just starts with his attitude and wanting to be great at everything he does. Everyone sees the match days, everyone sees the prizes and the final score. I think people in this community were lucky enough to see that special part of him every day, and that was his attention to detail."

Kueter: 🎩➕1️⃣

Little Hawks wiped out Davenport West's kickoff ‼️

E2
𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇 28
𝗗𝗔𝗩 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧 6#TSTL|#iahsfb pic.twitter.com/Fzul61Ul04

— City High Football (@CityHighFB)October 15, 2022

In Iowa, Kueter has the potential to chart depth as a true freshman. The Hawkeyes have two starters on the inside line:Jaya Higginsaand relocation of VirginiaNick Jackson. With a frame and silhouette similar to the former All-AmericanJack CampbellKueter has the natural skills to contribute to special teams. He also has speed, which he showed in the Iowa City High medley sprint relay portion this year at Drake Relays.

"They can do a few things with it," said Moore. "He can run. He has excellent ball skills. He catches the ball well and then has wisdom with it. All special players have wisdom, and Ben certainly has it."

While Kueter was attending spring training in Iowa, linebacker coach Seth Wallace ran past him and said, "I can't wait to bite your ass when you get here."

"I'm excited to be a part of this," said Kueter.

Kueter wrestler

More than statistics, what sets Kueter apart from his peers is the way he responds to challenges.

Iowa City High wrestling coach Cory Connell often invites younger applicants to practice with his wrestlers. When Kueter was in the eighth grade, he matched two seniors in the state rankings, including one who finished 5th. Kueter won both by technical fall.

"I thought, 'Wow, this kid is the real deal,'" said Connell. "I knew he was good, but I didn't realize how good he really was."

As a freshman, Kueter missed half of the wrestling campaign after breaking his ankle during football season. He still qualified for the state. In the semi-finals, he faced an undefeated wrestler weighing 160 kg. Kueter won the game 6-3 and won the championship 4-3.

Kueter attributes the injury to a push while he was away from home.

"It made me hungry and wanting to compete," he said, "because I couldn't compete for most of the season."

Prospective Hawkeye football player and wrestler Ben Kueter (Iowa City High) reached the quarterfinals with 12 seconds - the ninth fastest drop in Iowa High School State Championship history.

Watch LIVE on FloWrestling.pic.twitter.com/TzYECdylHS

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling)February 17, 2023

As a sophomore, Kueter only wrestled in 10 matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but nevertheless became a champion. He spent most of his time training with Gable, and the variety of these workouts helped Kueter deal with unusual situations on the mat.

"The best thing about it was that I couldn't wait to see what training would be like when I was with him," said Kueter. “There are days when I run in the mountains, ride a bike, on the mat, lift weights, go to the sauna and exercise. It was great because wrestling is really, really unexpected."

In the last two seasons, Kueter had a record of 76-0 with 54 falls and 13 technical falls. Only one of his matches had no bonus points.

Between the junior and senior seasons, Kueter competed for the U.S. 97 kg team at the world championships. In the semifinals, he beat Georgia's Luka Koutsua 8-0 in 30 seconds. Then his training with Gable began. Instead of panicking, Kueter countered one move at a time. He scored with a takedown and a spin. He eventually won 17:14. In the gold medal match, Kueter defeated his opponent, Rifat Gidak of Turkey, 10-2 before winning in the fall to claim the world title.

“The ability to deal with adversity really came from those workouts,” said Kueter.

Benjamin Kueter DOMINATES the World Finals! 🇺🇸🥇 Pins Rifat Gidak as the second world champion of the day.#UWW #WrestleSofia pic.twitter.com/3Q2W8kV2CQ

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling)August 16, 2022

Doing both in Iowa

The challenges for Kueter have intensified this summer. He joins the weightlifting and conditioning team in Iowa at 6 a.m. four days a week. He takes lessons at noon and then has wrestling practice at 3:00. The soccer program requires him to weigh 240 pounds, which is no problem for a heavyweight wrestler.

"He doesn't expect it to be a challenge," said Connell. “He manages his time very well, stays where he is and then moves on to the next thing. If there's anyone who can do it, they can do it."

Mental strain is something Kueter dealt with in high school. After his performance at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, he traveled to Madison, Wisconsin to compete in the World Team Trials that evening. So his stay in Iowa so far is torture he recognizes, and his coaches should appreciate that. Unlike Brecht with baseball, football and wrestling have overlapping eras. Collegiate supporters often have shoulder or ankle problems, which can lead to rehab problems.

"At this point, it's going to be, 'Are you going to screw up your central nervous system, thinking and mental health? Moore said. “Now again I think Ben is as elitist in this part as no one else. Physically he is an absolute gem, but I think he has an elite mentality.

Iowa's wrestling and football staff understand the challenges and limitations. Kueter is an honor student who follows his natural talents. The time will come when he will choose a certain direction. When this happens, there will be no bitterness, only support. It's a relief for Kueter.

"I actually talked to Brian Ferentz and his biggest thing - same thing with wrestling and same thing (with) coach Ferentz - was that they wanted me to be a hawk," Kueter said. "They didn't care at all that I only play football. I wasn't ready - and still am not ready - to give up one. It's okay with that.

"If the time comes and I have to make a decision, hopefully a few years will pass and I'll be a little more mature and come to terms with the sport. They don't want me to think it's a failure if I don't play two sports my entire career. I am Hawk. And that's all."

(top photo: Scott Dochterman /Athlete)