Takedown Report

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

No. 3 Iowa opens the 2025-26 season at home against Bellarmine
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 … more at … https://www.thegazette.com/hawkeye-wrestling/iowa-mens-wrestling-all-american-heavyweight-ben-kueter-is-back-and-bigger/

November 8, 2025 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized