Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – With three straight state titles Ben Kueter has gained acclaim for what he has done under the bright lights on the state’s biggest stage Saturday night at the state wrestling tournament.
It’s what everyone doesn’t see that has turned the City High junior into one of the top prep wrestlers in the nation.

“It’s what I due Monday through Friday,” Kueter said. “I know that I outwork everybody on those days and that all comes out on Saturday nights.”

That worked showed again on Saturday.

Top-ranked Kueter capped a third consecutive unbeaten season with a state title on Saturday pinning ninth-ranked West Des Moines Dowling junior Ralston Rumley (28-6) in the Class 3A 220-pound title match at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“His Monday is better than most people’s match day,” City High coach Cory Connell said. “He has an unbelievable work ethic.”

That work ethic combined with an impressive combination of size, speed, strength and skill has turned Kueter into a monster on the wrestling mat.

He improved his career record to 72-0 with the state title win on Saturday with all four of his state meet wins coming by fall or tech fall.

Kueter didn’t have a match last into the third period on his way to the 220-pound title while finishing the season 37-0.

After outscoring two opponents 39-8 in a pair of tech falls to open the tournament Kueter posted pins in 66 seconds and 73 seconds to become the first three-time champion at City High since 20220 Hall of Fame inductee Kyle Anson won his third title in 2005.

“It feels good,” Kueter said. “It feels good. I am excited and I’m ready to go make a world team.”

His performance on the mat has already set Kueter apart.

It is his work ethic that fuels that production.

“He is always thinking about wrestling, he is always wanting to wrestle, he’s always wanting to be challenged, he’s always wanting to be critiqued and that’s what I love about him most he’s not satisfied with just being great,” Connell said. “He wants to get to the highest level he can.”

That is the mindset of Kueter living in the now but always looking ahead.

His next goal – make the world team and win a world title.

“I have bigger stuff to win than this but this is a great tournament,” Kueter said. “I really enjoy it, it’s a great atmosphere I’m really great to be a part of it but I want to go make a world team and win a world title.”

Sophomores Cale Seaton and Kael Kurtz each bounced back from semifinal losses on Friday to earn top-four finishes on Saturday.

Seaton finished third for the second year in a row, this time at 120 pounds.

Kurtz was fourth at 126.

Class 3A State Wrestling Tournament

At Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. Southeast Polk 160; 2. Waukee Northwest 157; 3. Waverly-Shell Rock 147; 4. West High 93; 5. Bettendorf 90; 9. City High 64.5

Championship matches (Area wrestlers)

220 – Ben Kueter (City High) pinned Ralston Rumley West Des Moines Dowling 1:13

Consolation semifinals

120 – Cale Seaton (City High) dec. Trace Gephart (North Scott) 8-3

126 – Kael Kurtz (City High) dec. Maximus Riggins (Bondurant-Farrar) 10-3

Third-place match

120 – Cale Seaton (City High) pinned Logan Trenary (Southeast Polk) 4:26

126 – Brayden Parke (Linn-Mar) dec. Kael Kurtz (City High) 2-1 TB-1

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