Ben Kueter

[Rick Honcho]

Has Ben Kueter been fighting through injury this season/not recovered from his offseason hip procedure? Or is he burned out? I haven’t noticed him wincing or walking with any sort of hitch in his step, but that doesn’t mean much. There was a time where I was convinced Wyatt Hendrickson could only hope to be the next Ben Kueter. During last night’s match against Michigan, Ben Kueter at times looked almost like a statue - no movement. This not intended as any sort of cheap shot at the young man. Kueter just appears to be something altogether different on the mat this season compared to his previous two. If it is coaching/burnout, I hope for his own sake that Ben Keuter gets the heck out of Iowa City and gets on with a program and coaching staff that will steer Kueter to recapture his fire and zeal.

 

[heldyhawk606]

he's got at least two things going against him - still recovering from hip surgery, and possible other injuries. and turning into Telford

 

[heldyhawk606]

 

[Hawx224]

Not sure Ben’s being fair with the injuries Kueter has had. On the other hand, Iowa hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt

 

[heldyhawk606]

Not sure Ben’s being fair with the injuries Kueter has had. On the other hand, Iowa hasn’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt

Maybe he thinks the injuries are Iowa's fault too... which isn't too unlikely given track record as well

 

[heldyhawk606]

Either way face the reality - you have one of the loudest voices in the wrestling community posting about how Iowa took a JR world champ and "ruined" him. You now have to recruit against that.

 

[Waukhawk]

I'm sure Ben's hurt, but so are the vast majority of D1 college wrestlers all the time . It's a brutal sport. Nobody was making excuses for Cory Clark when he was hurt. He just went out there with a blown out shoulder and won a natty. If he's REALLY hurt that's on Tom for continually sending him out there. He's wrecked his confidence at this point. The team is going nowhere in March so why risk further injury or picking up a new injury. Shut him down, get him right for his final two years.

 

[lisa morales]

Kueter is a slow twitcher. What you're seeing has nothing to do with injury or coaching. He's just not a great athlete.

 

[sdvike]

Either way face the reality - you have one of the loudest voices in the wrestling community posting about how Iowa took a JR world champ and "ruined" him. You now have to recruit against that.

True but this isn't new. Askeren hates Iowa and has never done Hawks any favors in recruiting.

 

[heldyhawk606]

Sure, but this one hurts, this one is the type of comment that the next top wrestler on the fence between Iowa and some other program is going to see and decide yeah, I can't reach my goals at Iowa. While PSU and Ok St are turning out world team members, we are taking them and "ruining" them.

 

[Waukhawk]

True but this isn't new. Askeren hates Iowa and has never done Hawks any favors in recruiting.

I don't think Ben hates Iowa. He just hates the Brands brothers.

 

[Spenshawk3]

You’re not gonna win if you don’t take some chances. He needs to find his offense again.

 

[heldyhawk606]

and whether he does or doesn't - to write the comment off as "well he just hates Iowa" ignores the seriousness of the accusation and its potential impact.

 

[shiphappens]

It’s just Telford working his magic on yet another heavyweight. He can only coach the old school fat heavy’s on how to push around. Athletic Cass and slim Ben have both been lost due to their coach. Different body shapes require different coaching at heavy. Our heavy coach can’t adjust. Our head coach won’t boot him. It’s a problem.

 

[Tiltman]

Shut him down, get him right for his final two years.

What in the world leads you to believe the Brands can keep him healthy the next two seasons; if they shut him down this season. The Brands would find a way to wear the terminator out and injure him.

 

[McUSA]

I like hearing Askren’s thoughts and analysis. The man has depth and an interesting perspective. But this is a straight up troll job. He can troll with the best of them.

 

[el dub]

You’re not gonna win if you don’t take some chances. He needs to find his offense again.

He was down by four and put on a tough ride in the third. Still trying to figure out how he planned on winning that match with that strategy. He must be hurt unless he was just hoping not to be majored. I don’t get it…

 

[el dub]

I like hearing Askren’s thoughts and analysis. The man has depth and an interesting perspective. But this is a straight up troll job. He can troll with the best of them.

Unless Kueter is hurt, Ben’s not wrong.

 

[WhiteDog125]

Kueter is a slow twitcher. What you're seeing has nothing to do with injury or coaching. He's just not a great athlete.

JFC dude go away

 

[Trapper85]

Maybe he thinks the injuries are Iowa's fault too... which isn't too unlikely given track record as well

No, I really liked his recent podcast somebody posted, but this post is just lazy and attention seeking.

 

[WhiteDog125]

Unless Kueter is hurt, Ben’s not wrong.

Yep. Unfortunately it’s just another guy this staff has ruined. Who does Ben even train with ?

 

[heldyhawk606]

I like hearing Askren’s thoughts and analysis. The man has depth and an interesting perspective. But this is a straight up troll job. He can troll with the best of them.

stop trying to dismiss it because "he doesn't like Iowa," "doesn't like the brands" "is trolling"... you have a post that as of right now has 45.2k views, quite a few comments that reinforce but that's secondary; and it's stating that if you're a top wrestler with big goals and dreams - look closer at the track record at Iowa. It's going to take awful lot to convince the best recruits this is the place to come and try to win titles, when you consider that Cael could have double the number of individual champs this year than Tom has had in 10.

 

[MVPFAN]

Kueter is a slow twitcher. What you're seeing has nothing to do with injury or coaching. He's just not a great athlete.

Exactly, He has always looked the opposite of fluid out there, very deliberate and stiff and unable to change levels well.

 

[MVPFAN]

Sure, but this one hurts, this one is the type of comment that the next top wrestler on the fence between Iowa and some other program is going to see and decide yeah, I can't reach my goals at Iowa. While PSU and Ok St are turning out world team members, we are taking them and "ruining" them.

They don't need that comment to come to that conclusion.

 

[McUSA]

stop trying to dismiss it because "he doesn't like Iowa," "doesn't like the brands" "is trolling"... you have a post that as of right now has 45.2k views, quite a few comments that reinforce but that's secondary; and it's stating that if you're a top wrestler with big goals and dreams - look closer at the track record at Iowa. It's going to take awful lot to convince the best recruits this is the place to come and try to win titles, when you consider that Cael could have double the number of individual champs this year than Tom has had in 10.

You’re giving Askren way too much credit. He’s been highly critical of Brands and Iowa for years. As a result, AWA kids do not come here — never have and likely never will. But when has his comments ever moved the needle in recruiting? It simply hasn’t. We arguably have the best upcoming class at Iowa ever under Brands. Now if you want to argue what will happen development wise when they get here, that’s fair. Askren has been beating that drum for years. He makes valid points but everyone knows Askrens shtick. They might listen to and respect his thoughts and reasoning. But his troll jobs directed at the largest fan base are attention seeking… feeding the haters and you can tell he enjoys getting a rise out of us.

 

[Trakker]

Man AWA ruined Askren.

I am old enough to remember when Ben could roll around with his kids on the mat and go watch them at tournaments.

 

[BrianLafevre]

You’re giving Askren way too much credit. He’s been highly critical of Brands and Iowa for years. As a result, AWA kids do not come here — never have and likely never will. But when has his comments ever moved the needle in recruiting? It simply hasn’t. We arguably have the best upcoming class at Iowa ever under Brands. Now if you want to argue what will happen development wise when they get here, that’s fair. Askren has been beating that drum for years. He makes valid point but everyone knows Askrens shtick. They might listen to and respect his thoughts and reasoning. But his troll jobs directed at the largest fan base are attention seeking… feeding the haters and you can tell he enjoys getting a rise out of us.

That’s a lot of words just to say you don’t know what you are saying. You acknowledged his AKA kids won’t come to Iowa because of him but then say his comments don’t move the needle in recruiting…?

He dislikes the Brands and the un-knowledgeable fans that scream stalling after four seconds of Iowa collar tying and pushing. If you think he doesn’t hold influence over impressionable young recruits, then that’s a reflection of your knowledge.

 

[Slim45]

Yep. Unfortunately it’s just another guy this staff has ruined. Who does Ben even train with ?

“Just another guy the staff has ruined”, what a lazy and stupid comment. Kueter’s wrestled 1 ncaa tourney and is a 1x AA. Sure he hasn’t looked great this year, but ill go ahead and let the full season play out before saying he’s been “ruined”. He didn’t look great last year either and when the time came he AA’d.

 

[93hawkeye]

For some reason he really lacks confidence.
But I will also say I think he's a weight class casualty. I think he had good length, strength and mat savvy for high school and Junior weights. Against top college HWTs, their horsepower, especially in the hips, is hard to overcome

 

[Evashevsky58]

I’m thinking the lack of strength in Ben’s hips from his injury and lack of confidence from this is the reason for his inability to wrestle effectively this year. It may be that simple.

 

[lisa morales]

JFC dude go away

Clearly, you disagree.

 

[Sir Pin Alot]

Either way face the reality - you have one of the loudest voices in the wrestling community posting about how Iowa took a JR world champ and "ruined" him. You now have to recruit against that.

Really need to take this with a grain of salt. Not sure what Iowa did to Askren, but he sure is grinding the axe on them.

 

[Corby2]

“Just another guy the staff has ruined”, what a lazy and stupid comment. Kueter’s wrestled 1 ncaa tourney and is a 1x AA. Sure he hasn’t looked great this year, but ill go ahead and let the full season play out before saying he’s been “ruined”. He didn’t look great last year either and when the time came he AA’d.

Been needs attention he can't leave the house . So funny that now all the fire Tom people are using Ben because what he's saying fits their narrative as well.

 

[BrianLafevre]

Been needs attention he can't leave the house . So funny that now all the fire Tom people are using Ben because what he's saying fits their narrative as well.

What narrative? He’s a Jr world champion that struggles for any offensive output. His feet are slower than Chris Taylor’s and he loses matches unbefitting his pedigree.

He is likely injured which is a valid criticism of Brands.

I would say fire Corby2 for thinking Brands is doing a good job but nobody knows who you are.

 

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

For everyone blaming injury, was Ben ever a high output attacker?

 

[Corby2]

What narrative? He’s a Jr world champion that struggles for any offensive output. His feet are slower than Chris Taylor’s and he loses matches unbefitting his pedigree.

He is likely injured which is a valid criticism of Brands.

I would say fire Corby2 for thinking Brands is doing a good job but nobody knows who you are.

Everyone knows crying Brian. How many NCAA tournaments has Ben wrestled in? How many times has Ben been an AA?

 

[BrianLafevre]

Everyone knows crying Brian. How many NCAA tournaments has Ben wrestled in? How many times has Ben been an AA?

Unlike you, I don’t need reminded that I’m a nobody on the internet.

What is your point about the #1 ranked pound for pound wrestler coming out of high school? He has one low all American finish to his name and is ranked #12. Is that meeting or exceeding expectations?

 

[McUSA]

That’s a lot of words just to say you don’t know what you are saying. You acknowledged his AKA kids won’t come to Iowa because of him but then say his comments don’t move the needle in recruiting…?

If AWA kids were coming here and stopped due to Askren’s comments, that’s called “moving” the needle.

Look at recruiting under Brands over the years. It’s been exhausted to death on this forum. Now point to where you see the drop. And then try to explain Askren’s influence.

 

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

Who are the current AWA guys in college? Are they even good though?

 

[BrianLafevre]

If AWA kids were coming here and stopped due to Askren’s comments, that’s called “moving” the needle.

Look at recruiting under Brands over the years. It’s been exhausted to death on this forum. Now point to where you see the drop. And then try to explain Askren’s influence.

You are getting tripped up by your own flawed logic. The fact is very good AKA kids will not go to Iowa due to Askren’s influence and his dislike of Brands.
That is a problem.

Parker keck, mirasola bros, o’toole and Mesenbrink would not and did not go to Iowa because of Askren’s influence. That’s a problem. That’s the influence.