Iowa wrestling sees several departures, weight changes on 2024-25 roster

Iowa wrestling released its roster ahead of the 2024-25 season on Tuesday, showcasing several departures and weight changes for the team.

Zach Glazier and Aiden Riggins have both departed for new programs. Glazier confirmed to the Register that he is headed to South Dakota State, while Riggins told the Register he has joined the Iowa State program. Departing alongside them, according to the roster and an Iowa spokesperson, are Bradley Hill, Cobe Siebrecht, Cade Siebrecht and Drake Rhodes, while Stephen Buchanan is on the way in.

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Hill and Cobe Siebrecht both qualified for the NCAA Championships for the Hawkeyes, Hill doing so in 2024 and Cobe Siebrecht accomplishing the feat in 2023 before sitting out the 2024 campaign due to the controversial gambling suspensions handed to several wrestlers in the program. Cobe Siebrecht has one year of eligibility remaining, while Hill has three.

Hill was praised by the Iowa staff a year ago for his role in stepping up for the suspended Tony Cassioppi, and despite often being overlooked for Ben Kueter, coach Tom Brands lauded the Bettendorf native any chance he got.

“Bradley Hill… he is not chop liver,” Brands said. “He’s a capable, talented and explosive heavyweight that we love.”

With Kueter dedicating a full season to wrestling after qualifying for another U20 World Championships, Hill appears to be looking for other options.

Cobe Siebrecht was a potential option for Iowa at 157 pounds after Jared Franek’s departure, but he and his brother Cade, who were both multi-time Iowa state champions for Lisbon, are looking for new homes as well. Rhodes, who was 16-5 in four tournaments last year, is in the same boat as a 157/165-pound depth guy.

Departures, however, were not the lone notable roster change. Drake Ayala, an NCAA finalist at 125 pounds, was also listed at 133 pounds. That signals a weight change for the Fort Dodge native, who wrestled at the weight at U23 Nationals this summer. If 133 pounds is Ayala’s weight, that changes a few things for Iowa.

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First, 125 pounds would now be an open competition between sophomore Joey Cruz, senior Jesse Ybarra and freshmen Dru Ayala (Drake’s brother), Kenyan Hernandez and Anthony Lavezzola. Second, 133 pounds would be filled by Drake Ayala’s talent and experience, likely pushing Kale Petersen and Cullan Schriever to a battle for the 141-pound spot. Petersen and Schreiver both got starts last season and would be the presumptive favorites. Ryder Block was once considered an option at 141, but at this moment, is listed at 149 pounds on the roster.

Granted, the weights on the roster are not the end-all, be-all for the season. Riggins was a 157/165 pound wrestler on the roster last year, before wrestling at 174 or 184 pounds. Patrick Kennedy was listed at 165 pounds before taking over at 174 pounds.

This can all change, but the weight change for Ayala does signal what the Hawkeye coaching staff may be thinking ahead of 2024-25.

The full roster can be viewed on hawkeyesports.com.

Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him atEmckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.